Monday NCAA Thoughts...

I guess that's why Mizzou's Saturday night win was so important--they lost yesterday, but they still have another chance today.

It was a game of missed opportunities on both sides. With the bases loaded and one out in the 4th, Louisville grounded into an inning-ending double play. With the bases loaded and NO outs in the 4th, Mizzou scored only one run after a double play and a fly out. With a runner on third and one out in the 5th, Louisville couldn't advance the runner. With one on and one out in the 5th, Mizzou grounded into an inning-ending double play. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 7th, Mizzou failed to score. And finally, with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out in the bottom of the 9th, Mizzou failed to score again.

In the end, I guess the Cardinals won because they had more opportunities. Tiger pitchers allowed 14 baserunners (8 hits, 1 BB, and FIVE hit batsmen), while the makeshift Louisville staff allowed only 12 (6 hits, 5 BB's, 1 hit batsman). Credit goes to Louisville's pitchers for making it work, and credit goes to Cardinal 3B Chris Dominguez for hitting an absolute bomb (the game winner) in the 8th. However, after Dominguez seemed to yell and talk trash to every person in a Tiger jersey while rounding the bases, I'm not thinking we have to worry about an emotional letdown from Mizzou.

Here are some game-related links: Gabe from PowerMizzou gives an instant analysis of the game as it happens, and then talks about it afterward. Here's the KC Star write-up of the game's testy finish.

Louisville third baseman Chris Dominguez beat the Tigers with a two-run eighth-inning home run deep into Missouri’s left-field bullpen. Then Dominguez, throughout his trot around the bases, verbally taunted the Missouri players. He turned backward. He hopped up and down. He gestured toward a Missouri team straining to stay on the top step of its dugout.

Dominguez said Mizzou catcher Trevor Coleman said something — Dominguez couldn’t remember what — as Dominguez lingered at home plate before starting his trot. Dominguez said he “said some things,” too.

Should be an interesting finale. Hope the Tigers will be as worked up as the crowd surely will be.

And here is the updated pitcher usage for the weekend...

Missouri
Aaron Crow - 9.0 IP, 2 R
Ian Berger - 6.0 IP, 2 R
Rick Zagone - 5.0 IP, 4 R
Kyle Gibson - 3.1 IP, 1 R
Greg Folgia - 2.0 IP, 2 R
Ryan Gargano - 1.0 IP, 1 R
Scooter Hicks - 0.2 IP, 0 R

Louisville
Justin Marks - 5.0 IP, 3 R
Kyle Hollander - 7.1 IP, 1 R (3 games, pitched twice yesterday)
James Bellanger - 4.0 IP, 4 R
Zack Pitts - 4.0 IP, 9 R (2 games)
Skylar Meade - 3.0 IP, 1 R
Gavin Logsdon - 5.2 IP, 0 R (3 games)
Trystan Magnuson - 3.0 IP, 1 R (2 games)
Colby Wark - 3.0 IP, 3 R (2 games)
Chris Dominquez - 0.1 IP, 2 R
Andrew Salgueiro - 0.2 IP, 0 R

Last I heard, Jamieson was leaning toward starting ace Aaron Crow on 2 days rest. He should be good for 2-3 innings, Kyle Gibson should be available for another 3 innings, and Hicks, Gargano, etc., should be able to put in an inning or two as well. This are still set up pretty well for the pitching staff. As for Louisville, the biggest thing will be simply that closer Trystan Magnuson will be available...he threw two innings in the Miami game yesterday and didn't pitch last night.

We'll see what happens.

As for other Big XII teams...
ATM forced a final game against UL-Lafayette, winning 4-1 last night.

OSU came back to beat Arkansas, 7-6, last night, and will face today's MU-L'ville winner. In other words, Mizzou can host a Super Regional if they win today. Wow.

After eliminating Baylor, TCU too was eliminated by Rice, 3-1.

The Texas/UC-Irvine game was suspended in the 7th with Irvine up 6-5. Texas has to win to force a final game.

Nebraska crushed UC-Riverside, 11-1, in the early game yesterday, but they were eliminated by Arizona State, 19-7, in the nightcap.

Alright...HUGE game this afternoon. Go Tigers!