Southeast Missouri (6-4, 0-0) at Morehead State (7-5, 0-0)
Date: Thursday, Mar. 9 – Friday, Mar. 10, 2017
First Pitch: 3 p.m. / 1 p.m. (DH)
Location: Morehead, Ky.
Stadium: Allen Field
Head Coaches:
     Andy Sawyers (6-4, first season)
     Mike McGuire (122-122, fifth season)
 
Media Information
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM / Erik Sean | Listen Live
Live Video: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
The Matchups
Thursday: LHP Robert Beltran (0-1) v. LHP Dalton Stambaugh (0-1)
Friday (1): RHP Clay Chandler (2-1) v. LHP Aaron Leasher (1-1)
Friday (2): RHP Justin Murphy (2-0) v. TBA
 
Leading Off
Southeast Missouri baseball (6-4, 0-0) begins Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend at Morehead State (7-5, 0-0). The conference-opening series has been altered due to impending weather in the Morehead, Kentucky area. The series will begin Thursday at 3 p.m., CT, and will conclude Friday with a noon, CT, doubleheader. 
 
Follow the Redhawks
• This weekend's series 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 MSUEagles.com. 
• @SEMObaseball, the official Twitter page of the Redhawks, will feature live in-game updates all season long. 
 
Series History
Southeast Missouri leads the all-time series with Morehead State, 47-35. Southeast swept the Eagles in four meetings last season including shutting them out in the OVC Tournament on May 27. SEMO won the regular season series on the road in 2015 but Morehead eliminated the Redhawks in the championship round of the tournament that season. 

A Peek at What's Ahead
Southeast Missouri will return to Capaha Field for four-straight games beginning Wednesday against in-state foe Missouri State. Wednesday's 5 p.m. game will also feature the next tailgate of the season sponsored by Wings Etc. and River Eagle Distributing. UT Martin will come to Cape for a three-game OVC series beginning Friday, Mar. 17. Friday's game will be another tailgate featuring beef with barley and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. 
 
Scouting the Eagles
Morehead State is coming off a series win over Bowling Green at home this weekend. The Eagles are in the midst of a seven-game home stand. Morehead was originally set to host Youngstown State in a two-game midweek series but rain suspended Tuesday's game at the start of the second inning. The game will resume Wednesday afternoon, beginning nearly four games in three days for MSU. The Eagles are 7-5 on the season. The season has been highlighted by a 13-8 win over No. 27 Mississippi State on Feb. 21. Friday's game one starter Aaron Leasher leads the squad with a 1.64 ERA and a 2-0 record in three starts. He has struck out 25 and walked none. Thursday's starter Dalton Stambaugh has made two starts but will make his first weekend start against SEMO. He started against Mississippi State and Louisville. Offensively, outfielder Will Schneider leads the team with an impressive .457 batting average in 12 starts. Schneider also leads the team with a .652 slugging and .554 on base percentages. Braxton Morris has driven in a team-high nine RBI. Morris and Schneider each have four doubles, a triple, and a home run. Niko Hulsizer has three jacks on the season with eight RBI. 
 
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 has reached base safely in all 10 games to open the 2017 season. Holst ended 2016 on an eight-game streak, meaning he has reached base safely in 18-straight dating back to last season. Holst led the squad last season with a .475 on base percentage and currently leads this season with a .543 clip. His .485 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 only slugging .412 but his career .685 slugging percentage ranks second among active Division I players. 
 
No Walks for You! 
The Redhawk pitching staff has allowed only 13 walks this season. It's 1.33 walks allowed per nine innings is tops in the country. Southeast Missouri has issued one walk or less in the last seven games, registering just four walks in the span. Only one Redhawk pitcher has allowed more than two walks this season (Justin Murphy, 3). Southeast's 4.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks second in the country.