Southeast Missouri (2-6) at Memphis (2-5)
 
Date: Tuesday, February 27, 2018
First Pitch: 4 p.m., CT
Site: Memphis, Tenn.
Facility: FedExPark (2,000)
Series: Memphis leads, 27-19
Last Meeting: Memphis 3, SEMO 2 (Mar. 1, 2014 / Memphis, Tenn.)
Head Coaches: Andy Sawyers (118-59 overall; 31-32 at SEMO; 16-14 OVC). Daron Schoenrock (389-451 overall; 364-399 at Memphis).

Media Coverage
Radio: ESPN 92.9 FM (Erik Sean) 
Video: GoTigersGo.com
Live Stats: GoTigersGo.com
Southeast Missouri Notes
 
Redhawks Head to Memphis
Southeast Missouri (2-6) heads to Memphis (2-5) for its second midweek matchup of the season Tuesday. First pitch is set for 4 p.m., CT, at FedExPark.

Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Tuesday's game on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Video and live stats are available online at GoTigersGo.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMObaseball.

Series History
Memphis holds a 27-19 lead in the all-time series between these teams. The Redhawks and Tigers meet for the first time since 2014. That year, Memphis swept Southeast in a three-game series on Feb. 28-Mar. 1. 

Midweek Action
The Redhawks hit the road for their second midweek game of the season when they visit Memphis Tuesday. Southeast is 0-1 during the midweek this year after dropping a 7-6 decision at Arkansas State a week ago.

Redhawks Get First Win
Southeast recorded its first win of the season with a 8-4 come-from-behind victory in game two of its series against Bowling Green (Feb. 24). The Redhawks trailed, 4-3, after six innings before using a big seventh to upend the Falcons. Southeast scored all four of its runs in that inning with two outs. The win snapped a 0-5 start for the Redhawks this season.

First-Inning Deficits
The Redhawks fell behind in the first inning during all four of their games against Bowling Green (Feb. 23-25). Southeast rallied to win two of those contests in the seventh inning or later. The Redhawks are outscoring opponents, 18-6, over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings combined this year.

Vega Dominates
In his third appearance this season, reliever Carlos Vega simply dominated en route to leading Southeast to its first win of the season against Bowling Green (Feb. 24). Vega allowed only one hit in 3.1 shutout innings and retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he face. He retired the Falcons in order in each of the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to nail down his first win of the season. Vega also matched a career-high six strikeouts in that game.

Ezell Hitting Streak
Second baseman Trevor Ezell is on an eight-game hitting streak. Southeast's top hitter and the Ohio Valley Conference's third-leading hitter with a .500 batting average, has collected multiple hits in six of his eight starts. The longest hitting streak of Ezell's career to date is 18 games from Apr. 9-May 13, 2016.

Another Strong Performance
Trevor Ezell had another big week for Southeast, leading the Redhawks to their first wins of the season. Ezell hit .409 with five runs scored, a double, triple, two home runs and 11 RBI in five starts. He hit his first home run of the season to help get Southeast its first win in comeback fashion against Bowling Green on Feb. 24. A day later, Ezell went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, a triple, home run and four RBI to lead the Redhawks to a 9-7 victory in the series finale against the Falcons. Ezell hit a two-run home run in the first inning and delivered a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. He then scored the go-ahead run on a home run by Tristen Gagan. Ezell is one of three players in the Ohio Valley Conference  hitting .500 or better this year. 

Gagan Hits Game-Winner
First baseman Tristen Gagan hit a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to send Southeast to a 9-7 come-from-behind win and series split with Bowling Green (Feb. 25). Gagan went 4-for-7 with two runs scored, two home runs and three RBI in the final two games of the series. Both of his home runs came in game four. It marked the second two home run game in Gagan's career.

Vick Steps Up
Newcomer Christian Vick had a strong week out of the bullpen for Southeast. Vick posted a 1-0 record with 11 strikeouts, one walk and did not allow an earned run in seven relief innings. He had a season-high six strikeouts and tossed four scoreless innings to pick up his first career win against Bowling Green (Feb. 25). Vick has not allowed an earned run in seven-straight innings out of the pen.

Trailing After Six
The Redhawks have trailed after six innings every game this season. Southeast has scored first in two of those contests. 

Multiple Positions
Danny Wright, who enters the week on a six-game hitting streak, has started at three different positions through eight games this season. Wright started two games at third base, one at short and five in center field. He ranks fourth on the team with a .308 batting average.

The "Hit" Man
Trevor Ezell leads the Ohio Valley Conference and ranks sixth in the nation with 16 hits this season. Ezell is also among the league's top 10 leaders in batting average (3rd, .500), slugging percentage (6th, .781), on-base percentage (7th, .528), RBI (1st, 11), triples (t1st), total bases (t2nd, 25) and at-bats (2nd, 32).

Double-Digit Hits
Southeast registered double-digit hits twice in its series against Bowling Green. The Redhawks had 11 hits for their first double-digit hit game of the season on Feb. 23. A day later, Southeast tallied a season-high 13 hits. The Redhawks outhit the Falcons, 42-35, in the four-game set.

Home Run Count
Southeast has six home runs and ranks tied for third in the Ohio Valley Conference in that category this season. The Redhawks hit a home run in four of their last five games and have one more round-trippers than they did through their first eight matchups last year. Trevor Ezell, Tristen Gagan and Wade Stauss each have two home runs.

Seven-Game Home Stand Ahead
After Tuesday's midweek tilt at Memphis, the Redhawks return to Cape Girardeau for a seven-game home stand. The Redhawks open a three-game series against South Dakota State on Friday, Mar. 2. Southeast then hosts regional rival Southern Illinois on Mar. 6 before opening Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series against Morehead State (Mar. 9-11).

Hit Batsmen
Southeast is second in the Ohio Valley Conference in hit by pitch. Redhawk hitters have been hit by a pitch a total of 11 times this season. Danny Wright has been hit by a pitch a team-high three times this year.

Dirden On a Roll
Junior right fielder Justin Dirden is on a four-game hitting streak and has hit safely in seven of his first eight games this season. Dirden had two hits in three of his previous four contests. He had at least two RBI in back-to-back games to open last weekend's series against Bowling Green (Feb. 23-24). Dirden ranks third on the team in batting average (.333), first in doubles (3) and second in RBI (8).

Holyfield Scheduled to Start Tuesday
Junior right-hander Ashton Holyfield will make his second midweek start at Memphis Tuesday. Holyfield struck out four, gave up four hits, allowed two runs and walked two in 3.1 innings of a no-decision at Arkansas State (Feb. 20).

Ezell Career Capsule
Junior Trevor Ezell has started 133 games, more than any player on Southeast's 2018 roster. Ezell owns a .328 batting average with 148 runs scored, 180 hits, 30 doubles, 10 triples, 12 home runs, 89 runs batted in, 100 walks and 39 stolen bases in his career. He ranks among the school's all-time career leaders in triples (t5th, 10), walks (8th, 100) and stolen bases (8th, 39). Ezell collected multiple hits a total of 31 times and drove in multiple runs on 15 occasions in his career.