Kansas (26-14) vs. Missouri (21-20) at Kauffman Stadium, 7PM

Copied over from Rock Chalk Talk.   Kauffman Scoreboard from the 2008 Border Showdown game. 

 

Kansas and Missouri will meet for the second annual Border Showdown game at Kauffman stadium Wednesday at 7PM.  Last year Kansas received a brilliant start from Shaeffer Hall and shut out Missouri 3-0.  This was the first game that really brought Hall notice in the Big-12.  One year later and he is recognized as one of the better weekend starters in the conference.

For Kansas and Missouri, 2009 has gone pretty much in opposite directions.  Missouri was picked in most national polls as one of the top twenty teams in the nation.  The Tigers got off to a 1-7 start and are just now regaining their footing.  Kansas was picked by the Big-12 coaches to finish last in the conference.  Instead the Jayhawks have surprised just about everyone and positioned themselves to finish in the top half.   Tonight’s game will not count in conference standings but is very meaningful to both teams.

The pitching matchup tonight will be Brett Bollman for the Hawks and Jan Berger for the Tigers.  Bollman, a junior, is putting together a breakout season.  In seven games (five starts) he is 4-0 with an ERA of 1.74.  Last year Bollman’s ERA was 5.83 in 24 relief appearances.  While Bollman’s 2009 success has largely been built facing less competitive clubs I think skepticism is out of order.  Twenty-two of Bollman’s 31 innings this year have come facing at worst average D-I offensive teams and in those innings he has a 1.22 ERA (22 innings vs. Western Illinois, Northern Colorado, Creighton and Texas Tech, Bollman has given up 17 hits and 2 walks while striking out 19.)  Bollman seems set to make a statement tonight similar to the one Hall made a year ago.

Missouri will send Senior Ian Berger to the mound.  Berger put together back to back solid seasons in 2007 and 2008, a combined 9-6 record with a 4.31 ERA in 137.2 innings.   This year has not gone so well for him.  He has a 5.68 ERA in 38 innings (41 hits, 14/30 BB/K.)  Interestingly Berger was Missouri’s starter last year for this game.

Kansas has the better offensive club this year.  The Jayhawks, at 7.1 runs a game, are averaging a run more than Missouri.  Greg Folgia (#10) is leading MU.  The junior outfielder is hitting .331 with 7 homeruns and 42 RBIs.  Kansas is paced by third baseman Tony Thompson (#8).  With a batting line of .386/.433/.719 and counting stats of 12 homeruns and 54 RBIs, complimented by excellent defense at the hot corner, the sophomore is in the running to be named conference player of the year.

First pitch is at 7PM.  It is going to be a beautiful night.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see six or seven thousand show up for the game.  The game will be broadcast on KLWN AM 1320 in the Lawrence area and KTGR AM 1580 in the Columbia area.

Full KU stats here  -   Full MU stats here