Former ND star among two Big 12 transfers

~ Matt Wulfers leaves Missouri, will join Redhawks next season; Nebraska's Wagner also joins team for 2007.

For various reasons, Matt Wulfers rarely got off the bench at the University of Missouri the past two years.

The former Notre Dame High School standout hopes to revive his college baseball career in his hometown.

Wulfers is transferring to Southeast Missouri State, where he will be a sophomore in eligibility and will join the program in the 2007 season.

Another Big 12 Conference transfer who saw little action the last two years, Matt Wagner from Nebraska, also is headed to Southeast. Like Wulfers, Wagner will be a sophomore and will be immediately eligible.

"We're really pleased to have both of these guys join our program," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Wulfers, an outfielder, redshirted at Missouri during his first season in 2005. He broke his leg on the first day of last year's fall practice and missed the remainder of fall workouts, which set him back for the 2006 campaign, and he received just two at-bats while playing in two games.

"I had a really good fall my first year, but the coaches decided it would be best to redshirt, which was fine," Wulfers said. "Last summer, I developed shin splints, then the first day of fall practice, the first throw I made from the outfield, my right tibia snapped. I was on crutches for 10 weeks, then once that got healed, I was on crutches for a stress fracture in the other leg.

"When you do that, and you have to beat out guys like Jacob Priday, a freshman All-American [in 2005], and other really good players, it's just not going to happen."

Added Wulfers: "I could have stuck around, but I felt like I needed to start over somewhere and get a fresh start. It's going to be nice to play at home."

Wulfers, a 2004 Notre Dame graduate, was a two-time all-stater for the Bulldogs. As a senior, he batted .479 with 10 doubles and a school-record five triples. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Wulfers belted 11 home runs as a junior.

"We were very interested in him out of high school, but he made the decision to go to Missouri, and we're very happy to get him back," Hogan said. "The only difference between him now and then is he had the injury, which I'm sure set him back."

Wulfers is hitting better than .300 this summer for the Nevada (Mo.) Griffons, who compete in the Jayhawk League that is considered one of the top wooden bat leagues in the country. Nevada placed ninth in last year's National Baseball Congress World Series.

"He's having a real good year for them, in a very tough league," Hogan said.

Wagner's first two years at perennial national powerhouse Nebraska were remarkably similar to Wulfers' stint at Missouri.

Wagner redshirted in 2005, then suffered a knee injury last fall that set him back for the 2006 season. Like Wulfers, Wagner played in just two games and went 0-for-2.

"Both guys were in contention for spots going into the season, but by the time they got back from their injuries, other guys had moved ahead of them," Hogan said. "They both have a lot of upside."

Wulfers had a hand in Wagner's transfer to Southeast.

"We also played together last summer for the Parkville [Mo.] Sluggers, and this year when I decided to transfer, I asked coach Hogan if he needed any other players," Wulfers said. "I knew Matt was looking to transfer, and I told him about SEMO and coach Hogan."

Wagner, a 6-4, 225-pound first baseman, also is playing for the Nevada Griffons this summer. As of early this week he was leading the team with a .341 average.

"What we'll get is two hungry players who really haven't had a chance to get on the field yet," Hogan said. "They spent two years in the Big 12 at programs that pretty much always make the NCAA regionals, and the pitching they faced in intrasquad games is probably better than what they'll face next season.

"I really think they've got a chance to be very good contributors for us."