Southeast Missouri (6-7) vs. Missouri State (12-3)
Date: Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2017
First Pitch: 3 p.m.
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Stadium: Capaha Field
Head Coaches:
     Andy Sawyers (6-7, first season)
     Keith Guttin (1,188-742, 35^th season)
 
Media Information
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM / Erik Sean, Jess Bolen | Listen Live
Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
The Matchup
LHP Nate Green (1-0) vs. RHP Austin Knight (1-0)
 
Leading Off
Southeast Missouri baseball (6-7) returns home to Capaha Field to begin a four-game stretch over Spring Break. Missouri State (12-3) comes to town on Wednesday to begin the homestand. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

The next free tailgate originally scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed to a date to be announced later. 
 
Follow the Redhawks
• Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM. Erik Sean and Jess Bolen will be on the call. Fans can download the free SEMO ESPN app to listen to live broadcasts of Redhawks baseball all season long. 
• Live stats will be available on GoSoutheast.com. 
• @SEMObaseball, the official Twitter page of the Redhawks, will feature live in-game updates all season long. 
 
Series History
Southeast Missouri trails the all-time series to Missouri State, 14-29. The Redhawks have fallen in four of the last five meetings. The teams, who used to play an annual home-and-home series began playing a single game in 2012 but took the 2016 season off. Missouri State last came to Cape Girardeau on Mar. 11, 2014. The Redhawks were victorious in the contest, 6-5. Only two current Redhawks, Clayton Evans and Trevor Ezell, have played against the Bears in their careers. 
 
A Peek at What's Ahead
UT Martin will come to Cape for a three-game OVC series beginning Friday, Mar. 17. Friday's game will be another tailgate, weather permitting, featuring beef with barley and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. First pitch Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Redhawks will then hit the road for five-straight games beginning at Central Arkansas next Tuesday. 
 
Scouting the Bears
Missouri State enters Wednesday's contest with a 12-3 record. Five of the Bears' wins have come via shutout, a figure that ranks second nationally. Missouri State's 2.15 ERA ranks eighth in the country. MSU strung together an eight-game winning streak before falling to Oklahoma State last Tuesday and dropping game one of its series at Minnesota. It's 10-1 record to begin the season matched a program-best start. Jake Burger is the team's power bat, blasting seven home runs, driving in 19 runs, and slugging .746 so far this season. Burger appears on the prestigious Golden Spikes Award watch list and was named to five preseason All-American teams. As a team, the Bears have hit 20 home runs and are outscoring their opponents 100-39. Wednesday's starter RHP Austin Knight is 1-0 in two appearances and one start. He earned the win in a five-inning start at Arkansas State on Mar. 1. He worked five scoreless innings, allowed only four hits, and fanned six batters. 
 
Lees Added to Johnny Bench Watch List
Senior catcher Brian Lees is one of 85 catchers nationally to be named to the 2017 Johnny Bench Award watch list presented by The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission and BaseballSavings.com. Lees, a native of Brunswick, Ohio, makes his second appearance on the list in as many years. The OVC is represented by Lees, Hunter Fain (Morehead State), Tyler Lawrence (Murray State), Clay Payne (Belmont), and Logan Starnes (Eastern Kentucky) on the watch list.
 
Wade to Save the Day
Junior Matthew Wade has taken on the closer role this season for the Redhawks and has settled in nicely. Wade has earned a save in three of his four appearances this season. The righty had four saves as a redshirt-freshman in 2015. His seven career saves ranks tied for seventh on Southeast's career saves list. The career record is 13 (Brad Smith, 2003-05). 
 
But Does He Get on Base?
Senior outfielder Dan Holst led the squad last season with a .475 on base percentage and currently leads this season with a .475 clip. His .475 career on base percentage ranks seventh among active Division I players. 
 
Hang In There, Slugger
Chris Osborne not only finished as the team and conference leader in slugging last season, he was the national slugging champion with a .741 slugging percentage. So far this season, he is slugging .556 but his career .701 slugging percentage ranks leads active Division I players. 
 
No Walks for You! 
Prior to last weekend, Southeast Missouri led the country in walks allowed per nine innings, allowing just 13 in the first 10 games of the season. However, Southeast surrendered 20 walks at Morehead State, increasing its walks allowed per nine innings to 2.65, still leading the conference but now ranking 18th in the country.