Southeast Missouri (21-24) at Lipscomb (18-24)

Dates: Friday-Sunday, May 4-6, 2018
Times: Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 6 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. CT
Site: Nashville, Tenn.
Ballpark: Ken Dugan Field (750)
Series: SEMO leads 6-1
Last Meeting: SEMO 5, LU 2 (Mar. 18, 2003 / Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Coaches: Andy Sawyers (137-77 overall; 50-50 at SEMO; 31-23 in OVC)

Media Coverage:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 92.9 FM (Erik Sean)
Video: ESPN3
Live Stats: Lipscombsports.com
Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3

Series History
Southeast Missouri leads its all-time series against Lipscomb, 6-1. The last meeting between these teams was 15 years ago when Southeast  beat LU, 5-2, in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks have won the last six meetings against the Bison. 
 
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen this weekend's games on the radio at ESPN 92.9 FM. Erik Sean will call the action. Live stats are available at LipscombSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMObaseball. Video can be accessed at ESPN3
 
Redhawks OVC Series
Southeast is currently 15-9 in the Ohio Valley Conference and has won five of its seven conference series this season. The Redhawks presently stand tied for fourth in the league standings behind Tennessee Tech (19-2), Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky (14-7). Southeast has swept two teams this season, including SIU Edwardsville and Murray State. The Redhawks ended Tennessee Tech's 28-game winning streak in Cookeville on Apr. 29.
 
Total Bases 
Southeast has 654 total bases this season. Justin Dirden leads the team with 109, while Trevor Ezell (103) and Tristen Gagan (87) follow. Ezell has 344 total bases his career to date and Gagan has 205.  
 
Last Five Games
In the last five games, Trevor Ezell has had 12 hits and three doubles. Ezell has had 15 total bases and six RBI. Cody Creed pitched five innings with a 1.80 ERA in two appearances. Creed allowed just one run on three hits. 
 
Midweek Play
Southeast snapped a six-game losing streak in midweek games when it beat Saint Louis, 4-2, on Apr. 4. It was the Redhawks first midweek win of the season. The Redhawks are 3-8 in midweek games. The three wins came against Saint Louis (2) and McKendree. 
 
Redhawks Field Cleanly
There are two Redhawks currently with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Alex Canty and Peyton Faulkner have no errors through 45 games this season. Faulkner has 46 putouts with no errors in 29 outfield starts. Meanwhile, Alex Canty has only played defense in four games this season, but has five putouts and 12 assists. Wade Stauss has a .996 fielding percentage on 225 putouts with one error. Tristen Gagan owns a .995 fielding percentage on 357 putouts and two errors. 
 
Hot Bats
The Redhawks have 441 hits and 268 RBI in 2018. Southeast averages over six runs a game on just under 10 hits. Trevor Ezell leads the team with 74 hits, which is second in the Ohio Valley Conference. Justin Dirden leads the Redhawks with 55 RBI this season. Southeast has 87 doubles and 38 home runs, as well.
 
Home Run Count
Southeast has 38 home runs this season. The Redhawks hit a home run in 24 games. Justin Dirden leads the team with 12 round-trippers. The Redhawks had a season-high four home runs at Austin Peay (Mar. 31).  Alex Canty hit four home runs in his 40 at-bats this season. 

Ranked in the OVC (As of April 30, 2018)
The Redhawks are tied for first in the OVC in hit by a pitch (56) and  second in ERA (4.77). Southeast is currently third in hits allowed (388) and tied for first in home runs allowed (30). The Redhawks boast a league-high .973 fielding percentage. 
 
Individuals: Trevor Ezell is second in batting average (.406) and hits (73). He also stands tied  for first in triples (3). Justin Dirden is tied for third in RBI (54) and home runs (12). Three Redhawks are currently ranked in doubles, including Chase Urhahn (3rd, 18), Justin Dirden (6th, 16), Tristen Gagan (t7th, 15). Peyton Faulkner leads the league in hit by pitch (14) and is in a tie for first in fielding percentage (1.000). Carlos Vega leads the OVC with a 1.82 ERA and ranks second with an opposing batting average of .213. He has also allowed the fewest runs with only 15. Vega gave up only one home run all season which ties for first among conference leaders. Aaron Stretch has appeared in 20 relief games for fifth in the league.
 
Southeast Ranks Nationally (As of May 1, 2018)
Trevor Ezell ranks 12th in batting average (.402) and is fifth in hits (74). Ezell also rates seventh with 1.68 hits per game. Chase Urhahn is tied for 12th (18) in doubles and ranks 20th in doubles per game (.42). Justin Dirden is tied for 37th (16) in doubles, ranks 26th in home runs (12), is tied for 14th in RBI per game (1.22), tied for ninth in RBI (55), stands 32nd in slugging percentage (.669) and 30th in total bases (109). Tristen Gagan is tied for 39th with 46 RBI. Peyton Faulkner is 23rd in hit by pitch (15). Additionally, Carlos Vega is 31st in the nation with a 1.82 ERA. As a team, the Redhawks rank nationally in double plays (t21st, 41), double plays per game (t38th, .91), doubles (t38th, 86), hit by pitch (t49th, 58), hits (33rd, 440), and runs (t49th, 285).
 
Hit Batsmen
Southeast is tied for first in the Ohio Valley Conference in hit by pitch. Redhawk hitters have been hit by a pitch a total of 58 times this season. Peyton Faulkner has been hit a league-high 15 times. Faulkner has been hit by a pitch in five consecutive games. 
 
On Deck
The Redhawks return to Capaha Field for the final time in 2018 when they host Belmont in a three-game series May 11-13.