Southeast Missouri (20-15, 10-8) at Murray State (16-20, 6-9)
Dates: Friday, Apr. 21-Saturday, Apr. 22, 2017
First Pitch: 1 p.m. (DH) / 2 p.m.
Location: Murray, Ky.  
Stadium: Reagan Field
Head Coaches:
     Andy Sawyers (20-15, first season)
     Kevin Moulder (59-89, third season)
 
Media Information
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM / Erik Sean | Listen Live
Live Stats: Game One | Game Two | Game Three
Live Video: OVC Digital Network (Friday only)
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
The Matchup
Friday (Game One): RHP Clay Chandler (7-2) vs. RHP Ryan Dills (2-2)
Friday (Game Two): RHP Justin Murphy (4-3) vs. LHP Luke Brown (0-2)
Saturday: TBA vs. TBA
 
Leading Off
Southeast Missouri baseball (20-15, 10-8) travels to Murray, Kentucky this weekend for a three-game series with the Murray State Racers (16-20, 6-9). Due to forecasted rain in the region over the weekend, the series will now begin with a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. Game three is scheduled to be played Saturday at 2 p.m., weather permitting. 
 
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 GoSoutheast.com. 
• @SEMObaseball, the official Twitter page of the Redhawks, will feature live in-game updates all season long. 
 
Series History
Southeast holds a 45-33 advantage over Murray State in the all-time series. The Redhawks have won five of the last six games over the last two seasons including sweeping the Racers in Murray in 2015. The Redhawks put up a total of 37 runs in that series. 
 
A Peek at What's Ahead
The Redhawks will be back at Capaha for four games next week beginning with the home-and-home finale against Southern Illinois on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. against the Salukis. OVC-leading Tennessee Tech comes to Capaha Field next weekend for a key conference matchup beginning Friday under the lights. The series will feature several special events including two tailgates, Bark in the Park, and a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the renovations to Capaha Field. 
 
Scouting the Racers
Murray State enters the weekend series 16-20 on the season and 6-9 in league play. The Racers began the season with a hot start but have scuffled as of late, winning only one of their last 10 games. In its last two OVC series, MSU dropped two of three to Jacksonville State and were swept on the road last weekend at Tennessee Tech. Brandon Gutzler leads the squad with a .369 batting average and has also driven in 39 runs, hit 12 doubles, and knocked eight home runs to slug .624. The Racer pitching staff holds a collective 6.82 ERA. Game one starter RHP Ryan Dills is 2-2 in nine starts with a 5.37 ERA. While batters are hitting .306 off him, he has struck out 58 this season. Freshman LHP Luke Brown will make his first Racer start in game two of the series. He has appeared in 17 games and has a 6.75 ERA in 18.2 innings of work. 
 
Murphy Named OVC Pitcher of the Week
Justin Murphy tossed the first Redhawk complete game of the season against Jacksonville State Friday evening and it came in shutout fashion. He allowed eight hits in his nine innings and left seven Gamecocks on base in the game. He didn't allow a walk until two outs in the ninth and struck out five in the process. He faced the minimum in three of his nine innings. To top it off, he worked his complete game on only one run of support from his offense. His efforts won him OVC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors for the first time in his Redhawk career.
 
Clay for the Win
Senior RHP Clay Chandler earned his team-leading seventh victory against Jacksonville Stat Thursday. He has won every start in the last five outings on the mound while also earning a save in that span. The Second Team All-OVC performer from a season ago finished 4-5 in 2016. His seven wins is tied for the league lead with Michael Wood from Tennessee Tech and is tied for third nationally, one win behind co-leaders Jake Thompson (Oregon St.) and David Peterson (Oregon) with eight wins each. 
 
A Red Hot Hitting Holst
Senior outfielder Dan Holst is Southeast's top hitter this season, sporting a .409 batting average. His hitting clip ranks third in the conference and 14th in the country. He leads the team with 19 multi-hit games and his 10 multi-RBI games ties for the team lead this season. His 54 hits ranks 45th while his 1.54 hits per game ranks 34th in the country. 
 
There's No Place Like Home
In 18 games at Capaha Field this season, Southeast is 14-4 including a 7-2 OVC clip. The Redhawks are hitting .314 at Capaha and holding opponents to a .255 average while outscoring them, 151-87. Individually, Dan Holst is hitting .452 while Tristen Gagan has hit seven homers and driven in 27 runs. 
 
Going Streaking
Following the Jacksonville State series, Dan Holst is the lone Redhawk to have a double-digit on-base streak at 23 games, a career long. Holst's 12-game hitting streak was snapped last week.
 
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 .518 clip. His .491 career on base percentage ranks fifth among active Division I players. His .518 average ranks eighth nationally this season. Chris Osborne's .452 career on base percentage ranks 19th. 
 
Wizard of Osborne
Right fielder Chris Osborne extended his hitting streak to 19 games at Arkansas State but saw it snapped the following evening. Osborne hit .468, slugged .688, and recorded a .528 on base clip, all of which led the team in that span. He has also drove in 22 runs. During the streak, Osborne had 11 multi-hit games and a team-best seven multi-RBI performances. He raised his batting average up nearly two hundred points from .208 to .406. 
 
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 .609 and his career .681 slugging percentage ranks second among active Division I players. His career .368 batting average ranks ninth in Division I. 
 
'Show Me' Baseball
The four Division I baseball teams in the state of Missouri (SEMO, Missouri, Missouri State, Saint Louis) are a combined 91-53 (.632) this season. Southeast is the only team that plays the three other programs. The Redhawks have beaten all three of the other teams in the state the season and will have the chance for the full sweep May 2 at Saint Louis. 
SEMO - 20-15
Mizzou - 26-12
Missouri State - 24-13
Saint Louis - 21-13