ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University baseball team opens their 2012 season on Saturday with a doubleheader against future regional rival Missouri Southern State University at 12:15 at Metrodome in Minneapolis. It will be the season opener for both clubs. For fans unable to make it over to Metrodome, follow online LIVE: LISTEN | STATS
MSSU competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, a Division II conference of teams in Missouri and Kansas that will team up with the NSIC to form a new region in 2012-13. Last year, MSSU went 20-24 to finish seventh in the MIAA out of 12 teams while posting a 24-26 overall record. They were picked fifth in the 2012 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll out of 11 teams for the 2012 season.
Like Concordia, MSSU missed their league tournament by percentage points as the Lions were a half game out of the six-game field. Concordia finished a game out of the NSIC Tournament.
Also like the Golden Bears, the Lions bring back plenty of talent from a year ago. They return four all-conference players including pitchers Brett Abell and Cody Griebling who could see starts against Concordia this weekend.
Concordia returns their top four starting pitchers, and six everyday players in the lineup. They have nearly two-thirds of their at bats back and nearly 80% of their innings returning.
Concordia's returners are highlighted by preseason All-American Bryan Lippincott, who led the region in hitting (.434) a year ago, finishing seventh nationally.
The season opening weekend provides a stiff test for an experienced Concordia team that expects to play postseason baseball in the 2012 season.
