Southeast Missouri (9-6) vs. Missouri State (8-5)
Tuesday, March 11
3 p.m.
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Capaha Field
Head Coaches
Steve Bieser: 35-39, second season
Keith Guttin: 32nd season
Radio: ESPN 1220 AM
Play-by-Play: Erik Sean
Audio Webcast: ESPN1220.com
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball, @GoSoutheast
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
In-State Showdown
The Southeast Missouri baseball team will take a lot of momentum in to a midweek showdown with in-state rival, Missouri State. The Redhawks and Bears will go head-to-head at Capaha Field Tuesday at 3 p.m. The game can be heard live on ESPN 1220 AM. Garret Stockton will make his first start on the mound for Southeast while Jake Powers will be given the ball for Missouri State.
 
Let's Review
Southeast Missouri is coming off a three-game sweep of Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont in the opening weekend of OVC play. The Redhawks were firing on all cylinders on the weekend as the offense, pitching, and defense were all spectacular in the conference opener. As a team, the Redhawks hit .337 and out-scored the Bruins 24-4 on the weekend. The pitching staff was also very crisp as only six Redhawk pitchers were used, combining for a 1.33 ERA and performed a shutout in game three. Southeast held batters to a .157 batting average. Defensively, Southeast made a number of highlight reel plays, taking away hits, and most likely runs, from Belmont. Southeast committed three errors but forced the Bruins to make eight in the series.
 
There's No Place Like Home
The Redhawks have not played at the friendly confines of Capaha Field since Feb. 23 against IPFW. Cold, rain, snow and ice have been to blame for the lack baseball seen in Cape Girardeau. Southeast Missouri was supposed to host five game last week that were either cancelled or moved. After Missouri State Tuesday, the Redhawks hit the road once again but are expected to come home for four-straight games next week during Spring Break.
 
OVC Co-Player of the Week
Senior Derek Gibson was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Week Monday. In the OVC-opening series sweep of Belmont, Gibson hit .636 with six RBI. Gibson scored four runs on the weekend as he had seven hits including a double and a triple. Gibson was 3-for-4 with two RBI in game two before going 3-for-4 again in game three with four RBI and a run scored. He also scored two runs in game one with a single hit. Gibson was the designated hitter in all three games as well as saw a little playing time in left field in game three. Gibson shares the honor with Skyler Geissinger from SIUE.
 
Solid OVC Start
After week one of Ohio Valley Conference play, the Redhawks lead the league in conference batting (.337 batting average) as well as pitching (1.33 ERA). Derek Gibson's .636 average from the weekend leads the league in OVC games. Overall, the Redhawk offense ranks second (.303) and the pitching staff sits third with an ERA of 3.63 this season; both an improvement after last week. The Redhawks also lead the league once again in the stolen bases category with 23 this season. The Redhawks are sporting a 10.27 hits per game average and average 6.27 runs a game.
 
The Pen is Mightier Once Again
After a rough patch last week at Arkansas State and Memphis, the Redhawk bullpen was once again back to its old tricks against Belmont as three Redhawk relievers did not give up a single run to the Belmont Bruins. In fact, in 7.1 innings out of the pen, the Redhawks only gave up two hits this past weekend and all three relievers earned a save.
 
What's on Tap?
The Redhawks will make the long haul to Richmond, Ky. for a three-game series with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels Mar. 14-16 to kick off the Redhawks' spring break. Southeast will come home for four games, first with the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday followed by a weekend series with the Morehead State Eagles.