Southeast Missouri (0-0) vs. Western Michigan (0-0)
Date: Friday-Sunday, February 15-17, 2019
Time: Sat. 1 p.m, CT; Sun. 10 a.m., CT (DH)
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Ballpark: Capaha Field (2,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 2-1
Last Meeting: WMU 8, SEMO 6 (May 7, 2017 / Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Head Coaches:
Andy Sawyers (143-83 overall; 56-56 at SEMO; 36-24 OVC)
Billy Gernon (183-250-1; Ninth season)
Media:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Glen Johnson & Jess Bolen)
Stats: Saturday | Sunday Game 1 | Sunday Game 2
Series History
Southeast Missouri leads the all-time series against Western Michigan, 2-1, as the two faced off in a late weekend series during the 2017 season. There was a doubleheader on May 6th that the Redhawks swept with 12-6 and 8-5 wins, but the Broncos came back on May 7, 2017 and defeated SEMO, 8-6. That series was in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen this weekend's game on the radio at SEMO ESPN 1220 AM. Glen Johnson and Erik Sean will call the action alongside Jess Bolen. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMObaseball.
The 2019 Campaign
The Redhawks are scheduled to play a total of 32 games at Capaha Field this 2019 season. Sixteen of Southeast Missouri's first 17 games, including the first seven of the season will be played in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks face two Southeastern Conference foes in Vanderbilt and Missouri and one Big Ten opponent in Purdue. Southeast will face rivals Southern Illinois and Saint Louis twice this season. While Capaha Field is undergoing renovations, game times could be adjusted.
Southeast Returnees
The Redhawks have 22 returnees on their 2019 squad. A total of 10 are seniors, nine are juniors, two are sophomores, and one is a redshirt-freshman. The seniors include Devon Wilson, Hunter Southerland, Alex Nielsen, Logan Winder, Aaron Stretch, Justin Dirden, Christian Vick, Wesley Pyles, Austin Sachse, and Daniel Bergtholdt. Pyles and Bergtholdt have spent their entire collegiate careers in a Redhawk uniform.
Welcome to NCAA Division I Baseball
A total of 14 players will have the opportunity to experience their first game as a NCAA Division I baseball student-athletes during opening weekend against Western Michigan (Feb. 15-17). Trent Pobst (OF), Garrett Stephens (C), Daniel Lloyd (RHP), Tyler Wilber (INF), Andrew Keck (C), Keegan Meyn (OF), Noah Niznik (LHP), Brett Gonzalez (OF), Austin Blazevic (INF), Dylan Dodd (LHP), Turner Fritts (INF), Blake Cisneros (LHP), Bryce Grossius (RHP), Bryan McNeely (RHP) and Andrew Frank (RHP) all look forward to their first NCAA Division I action.
Redhawks Fifth in OVC Preseason Poll
The Redhawks were picked to finish fifth in the 2019 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Poll. Southeast accumulated 142 points in the overall voting by OVC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors. Morehead State is this year's preseason favorite after earning 11 first-place votes and 185 points. Jacksonville State (173 pts.), Tennessee Tech (166 pts.), and Austin Peay (143) were also picked ahead of the Redhawks. Eastern Kentucky (110), Belmont (88), Eastern Illinois (77), Murray State (51), SIUE (45), and UT Martin (32) completed the predicted order of finish. Tennessee Tech outfielder Kevin Strohschein was named Preseason OVC Player of the Year and Austin Peay left-hander Jacques Pucheu was tabbed Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year.
Redhawk Baseball
The 2019 campaign is Southeast's 60th season overall and 28th at the NCAA Division I level. Southeast won three Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles, one OVC Tournament crown and appeared in one NCAA Tournament in the last five years. The Redhawks have made the OVC Tournament a league-record 25 years in a row.
