Pierce Johnson

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Hometown: Arvada, Colo. High School: Faith Christian Academy Height / Weight: 6-3 / 180

Position: Right-Handed Pitcher B/T: R/R

2011: Johnson overcame a slow start to become perhaps Missouri State's most dominant pitcher the last two months of the season, closing the year with a 6-5 record and 4.76 ERA over 75.2 innings, 18 appearances and 10 starts...Ranked ninth in the MVC with 72 strikeouts and among the nation's top 125 with 8.56 Ks/9...Beginning April 5, pitched 53.1 innings with 55 strikeouts, a 2.36 ERA and .217 opponent average to close the season...Did not allow an earned run at home after March 20, firing 21.1 shutout innings over five appearances and ending the year with a 2.35 ERA at Hammons Field...Tossed a complete game with 10 strikeouts in an April 5 win at Kansas...Struck out nine and yielded no earned runs in seven innings versus No. 16 Arkansas (April 12)...Beat Missouri (May 3) with seven shutout innings and eight strikeouts...Defeated Bradley (May 15) after giving up two hits in four relief innings...Tossed 4.2 innings with one hit allowed in the regular season finale at Creighton (May 21), then saved the MVC Tournament opener three days later with two innings against Southern Illinois...Spent a second consecutive summer with the Harwich Mariners in the Cape Cod League, though a knee injury shortened his season to 12.1 innings. He posted a 4.38 ERA and fanned eight in the Cape.

2010: Made five starts and 11 relief appearances, going 1-2 with a 7.52 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40.2 innings as a freshman...Fanned eight batters over six two-hit innings against Arkansas State (March 16)...Had six strikeouts in his first career start, a win over North Dakota State (March 7)...Recorded as many strikeouts as innings pitched in half of his 16 appearances...Went 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 42.2 innings for the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod League over the summer.

Background: Johnson was a three-year starter for the Faith Christian Academy Eagles in Arvada, Colo...Was a first-team all-conference pick and honorable mention all-state choice as a senior despite missing half of the season due to injury...Went 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 25 innings as a senior...Helped his club to conference championships in each of his first three years as a prep, picking up first-team all-state honors as a junior and sophomore...Went 10-0 on a state championship team his sophomore season, hurling a four-hitter in the title game...Was 6-2 with a 0.54 ERA that included a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts as a junior...Selected in the 15th round of the 2009 MLB Draft by Tampa Bay.

Personal: Pierce William Johnson is the son of Don and Darla Johnson...Born May 10, 1991 in Denver, Colo...Pursuing a general business degree at MSU.