Southeast Missouri (10-7) at Central Arkansas (8-13)
Date: Tuesday, Mar. 20, 2017
First Pitch: 6 p.m.
Location: Conway, Ark.
Stadium: Bear Stadium
Head Coaches:
     Andy Sawyers (10-7, first season)
     Allen Gum (189-167, seventh season)
 
Media Information
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM / Erik Sean | Listen Live
Live Stats: UCASports.com
Live Video: UCASports.com (paid)
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
The Matchup
Tuesday: LHP Nate Green (1-0) vs. TBA
 
Leading Off
Southeast Missouri baseball (10-7) embarks on a five-game road stretch beginning Tuesday at Central Arkansas (8-13). The Redhawks and Bears are slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch under the lights in Conway, Arkansas. 
 
Follow the Redhawks
• Tuesday's game will be broadcast live on SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM. Erik Sean 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 UCASports.com. 
• A paid video stream will be available on UCASports.com. 
• @SEMObaseball, the official Twitter page of the Redhawks, will feature live in-game updates all season long. 
 
Series History
Southeast Missouri holds a 7-4 advantage over the Bears in the all-time series. The teams played in Conway in 2007 and 2010, splitting the four games, 2-2. UCA came to Cape for a three-game series last season in March. Southeast shut the Bears out in game one, 6-0, then were shut out in game two, 1-0. The Redhawks came out on top in the rubber game, 6-2, to clinch the series.
 
A Peek at What's Ahead
Southeast will continue its road stretch this weekend in Edwardsville, Illinois with a three-game OVC series against SIUE. The series opener will take place Friday evening at 6 p.m. The Redhawks will bring the road swing to a close against in-state rival Missouri next Tuesday, Mar. 28. 
 
Scouting the Bears
Central Arkansas enters Tuesday's game with an overall 8-13 record. The Bears have started Southland Conference play 1-5. Despite under .500 records, UCA is 6-5 at home this season including a series win over Evansville, a four-game series win over Eastern Illinois, and a midweek win over Little Rock. UCA began the month of March being swept in three games at Missouri State. Two of the losses were shutouts by Missouri State. Most recently, UCA dropped a conference series at Incarnate Word. First baseman Hunter Strong is UCA's top hitter and lone player hitting above .300, hitting .375. He's knocked 10 doubles, driven in 14 runs, and is sporting a team-best .461 on base clip. His 10 doubles and lone home run has contributed to a squad-best .523 slugging percentage. Rigo Aguilar has 18 RBI while William Hancock has 16 this season. Both are tied for the team lead with two home runs. UCA's runs leader, Michael Haun, has knocked six triples this season and has five stolen bags. 
 
A Solid Week in the Books
The Redhawks strung together a perfect 4-0 week last week with a win over in-state rival Missouri State and a sweep of UT Martin. SEMO outscored its opponents 37-13, slugged .528 as a team, and stole more bases in four games than it had in the previous 13. The Redhawks raised their batting average four points to above .300 and only committed two errors, putting six points back on to the team fielding percentage (.964). Pitching wise, the team ERA dropped from 5.14 to 4.68. 
 
'Show Me' Baseball
As the 2017 season approaches the end of March, the four Division I baseball teams in the state of Missouri (SEMO, Missouri, Missouri State, Saint Louis) are a combined 57-18 (.760) this season. Under former SEMO head coach Steve Bieser, the Missouri Tigers are sporting a 19-1 record. 
 
Freshmen on Fire
Freshmen Danny Wright and Connor Basler have made their presence known early in their rookie campaigns. The two have combined for seven multi-hit games and are hitting a combined .333 towards the bottom of the lineup. Wright had a hot week last week, hitting .636 (7-of-11), while scoring eight runs, slugging 1.091, drawing five walks, and being on base 75% of his plate appearances. 
 
Wizard of Osborne
Right fielder Chris Osborne is currently riding a 10-game hitting streak and on an 11-game on base streak. In the last 10 games, Osborne is hitting a team-best .447 and has driven in 15 runs. His slugging (.711) and on-base (.511)  percentages are also leading the team. 
 
Go Right Ahead
In 17 games this season, Southeast has scored first in just six games. Wednesday's game against Missouri State was the first since Feb. 27 SEMO touched home first. Opponents are outscoring Southeast 14-11 in the first inning this season and have scored in the first seven times. SEMO scored in the first all three games against UT Martin. The Redhawks are 4-1 when scoring in the first and 5-1 when scoring before their opponents. 
 
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 five appearances this season. He picked up a pair of wins as the pitcher of record last week against Missouri State and UT Martin. 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 .481 clip. His .476 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 .597 but his career .702 slugging percentage leads active Division I players.