HI NOTES: Ups & Downs

MU IN THE MINORS

♦ Red Sox lineup falling into place (KJOnline.com)

Other cuts made Tuesday included three players not on the 40-man roster -- pitchers Justin Germano and Doug Mathis, and outfielder Josh Kroeger. All three were minor league free agents and are expected to end up with Pawtucket.

GAME DAY

♦ Missouri baseball team ends homestand with loss to Central Arkansas (Columbia Missourian)

Even though Missouri managed 11 hits in the game, senior third baseman Conner Mach had the Tigers' only other RBI with a single to drive in Brannon Champagne in the fifth. Champagne had reached base with a single to right to extended the junior center fielder's on-base streak to 16 games. Both hits came with two outs.

♦ Tigers get over the hump in midweek game (Columbia Tribune)

"A lot of people just overlook midweek games — just think to get to the next contest in conference," junior outfielder Scott Sommerfeld said. "We know we've got the big test this weekend with" Texas "A&M, but we focus just mainly on taking it day by day. Central Arkansas, they proved it last year, they're a good ballclub."

The Tigers were 4-6 in midweek games last year — including a split against Central Arkansas — while compiling a regular-season record of 24-30. Because of the below-.500 overall record, Missouri needed to win the Big 12 Tournament title to be eligible for an NCAA regional. Losing three games might have been the difference in whether the Tigers were invited to the postseason.

♦ Eight in the eighth pushes Missouri baseball team past Central Arkansas (Columbia Missourian)

Starting pitcher Jeff Cline didn't make it through the second inning. Freshman pitcher, Ryan Yuengel relieved Cline only to give up two runs in 2 1/3 innings. And Brandon Platts, the fourth Tigers pitcher of the game, walked two and gave a hit in his one inning of relief.

As for the bats, even the eight-run eighth wasn't really a product of solid hitting. The Tigers scored all those runs on only four hits. They were four batters hit by pitches, a walk, a wild pitch and two costly defensive plays by an imploding Central Arkansas team.

Missouri coach Jamieson said the Tigers were fortunate to escape with a win in an "ugly game."