Feb. 17, 2009
The following is the fourth part in a five-part series previewing the 2009 Mizzou Baseball season. Today, we take a look at the 2009 outfielders.
The Tigers' top two hitters from a year ago return to lead the Missouri outfield. Junior Aaron Senne had a team best .347 average last year, while senior Ryan Lollis hit .339.
Senne was an All-Big 12 first team selection in 2008 after leading the team in batting average and RBI (67). He enters the 2009 season as a Preseason All-America selection by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association.
Lollis led Mizzou with 77 hits and 17 doubles in 2008 and was named to the All-NCAA Regional team after going 8-for-12 in the three games of the Coral Gables Regional. He was selected by the Detroit Tigers in last June's Major League Baseball Draft, but chose to return for his senior season.
In addition to seeing time on the mound, junior Greg Folgia will be among the Tigers roaming the outfield in 2009. Folgia hit .293 last year, leading the team in hits (66), triple (4) and walks (47), primarily as Mizzou's second baseman.
Sophomore Jonah Schmidt saw time in 24 games a last season, including 16 starts. He hit three home runs and had three doubles. Fellow sophomores Rex Meyr and Russell LaFleur also saw time in the lineup as freshmen.
Andre Rodriguez and Ryan Gebhart are freshmen outfielders out of the state of Texas joining the Tigers this season. Rodriguez hit .420 last season as the team MVP for Sharyland High School in McAllen, Texas, while Gebhart earned all-state honores for Midway High School in Waco, Texas.
2009 MUTigers.com Season Preview
Saturday, Feb. 14 -- PART I- 2008 Season in Review
Sunday, Feb. 15 -- PART II- The 2009 Pitching Staff
Monday, Feb. 16 -- PART III- The 2009 Infielders and Catchers
Tuesday, Feb. 17 -- PART IV- The 2009 Outfielders
Wednesday, Feb. 18 -- PART V- The 2009 Schedule
