Date: Tuesday March 26, 2019
Time: Tues. 6 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Ballpark: Capaha Field (2,000)
Series: Arkansas State leads, 25-19
Last Meeting: SEMO 6, A-State 7 (Feb. 20, 2018 / Jonesboro, Ark.)
Head Coaches:
Andy Sawyers (156-94 overall; 69-66 at SEMO; 39-30 OVC)
Tommy Raffo (274-264-1; Tenth Season)
Media:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean & Jess Bolen)
Stats: Live Stats
Series History
The Red Wolves lead the Redhawks 25-19 in the all-time series. Southeast dropped the lone game last season, after the second game was cancelled due to inclement weather. Head coach Andy Sawyers is 3-2 against Arkansas State, with a sweep his first season at the helm. The teams have split ten two-game series since 1992, with SEMO winning four.
Free Tailgate
Southeast Missouri holds the second free tailgate of the season at Tuesday's contest against Arkansas State. The tailgate is sponsored by Wings Etc., and River Eagle Distributing. There will be four more free tailgates this season, with the next being April 2 against Missouri State.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Tuesday's games live on the radio at SEMO ESPN 1220 AM with Erik Sean calling the action alongside Jess Bolen. Live stats are available at GoSoutheast.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMObaseball.
Walk This Way
Southeast Missouri walked 137 times this season, (5.7 per game), most in the Ohio Valley Conference. Connor Basler and Tyler Wilber lead the team with 21 and 19 walks, respectively. SEMO pitchers have allowed just 77 walks which stand as the fewest in the league. The Redhawks walked a total of 11 times in both the UT Martin and Austin Peay series. Prior to the start of conference play, SEMO drew 33 walks in its series against Purdue-Fort Wayne.
Hurts So Good
After leading the OVC in hit by pitch last season, SEMO is doing the same this year. Redhawk hitters have been plunked 30 times this season. Alex Nielsen leads the team after being hit on six different occasions. Peyton Faulkner and Hunter Southerland follow Nielsen with being hit four times each. In game two of their series against Western Illinois (Feb. 23), the Redhawks reached base five times by way of hit by pitch.
The 2019 Campaign
The Redhawks are scheduled to play a total of 32 games at Capaha Field this 2019 season. Southeast Missouri played 16 of its first 17 games in Cape Girardeau, finishing 11-5 in those contests. SEMO opened a five-game home stand against Memphis Tuesday.
Leading the OVC
SEMO is leading the Ohio Valley Conference in various statistical categories through the first half of this season. The Redhawks lead the league in triples (11), walks (137), hit by pitch (30) and walks allowed (77). Individually, Tyler Wilber leads the conference in doubles (9) and is tied for first in triples (3). Alex Nielsen stills holds the conference title in sacrifice bunts with six. Freshman Noah Niznik is tied for first in doubles allowed (2) and triples allowed (0). Connor Basler is second in walks (20) and is tied for second in steal attempts (13). Left-handed pitcher Dylan Dodd is tied for first in walks allowed (4), tied for second in wins (4) and is fourth in the OVC in batters struck out (41).
Injuries Hinder Redhawks
SEMO has been without five of its position starters due to injury. Outfielder Justin Dirden (wrist) missed 19 games and outfielder Peyton Faulkner (hand) was out the last 12 contests. Catcher Wade Stauss (concussion) has been sidelined for six games and, most recently, first baseman Austin Blazevic (hand) was out the SIUE series (Mar. 15-17) and Tuesday's game against Memphis. Designated hitter/first baseman Turner Fritts went 2-for-4 with a double and one walk in his return against Memphis (Mar. 19). Prior to that, Fritts missed seven games after his father suddenly passed away. In its last conference series at SIUE, SEMO had only two extra position players available and no left-handed hitters.
