Date: Tuesday April 2, 2019
Time: 6 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Ballpark: Capaha Field (2,000)
Series: MSU leads, 65-40
Last Meeting: SEMO 5, MSU 10 (Mar. 30, 2018 / Springfield, Mo.)
Head Coaches:
Andy Sawyers (157-97 overall; 70-69 at SEMO; 40-32 OVC)
Keith Guttin (1266-795; 37th Season)
Media:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean & Jess Bolen)
Stats: Live Stats
Free Tailgate
Missouri National Guard and Kohlfeld Distributing will sponsor the third free tailgate of the year Tuesday. The tailgate will be located on the hill along the first base line. The next tailgate will be held Saturday (Apr. 6) when the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State come to town.
Green Up! Games
Southeast Missouri has teamed up with Mid-America Transplant to aim awareness about organ, eye and tissue donors, donor families and transplant recipients. The feature began last season and will continue this season, with Tuesday games in April showcasing the team wearing special green uniforms. The other "Green Up" game is Apr. 23 against McKendree. Fans will have the opportunity to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation and register their decision to be a donor at the "Green Up" games.
Series History
The Bears lead the all-time series against Southeast Missouri, 65-40. SEMO is 1-1 against Missouri State under head coach Andy Sawyers. The Bears have won seven of the last 11 games of the series.
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 154 times this season, (5.5 per game), most in the Ohio Valley Conference. Connor Basler and Tyler Wilber lead the team with 22 walks each. SEMO pitchers have allowed just 93 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 36 times this season. Alex Nielsen and Hunter Southerland lead the team after being hit six 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 will hit the road for only the second series of the season, falling 1-4 on the road.
Leading the OVC ( as of Mar. 29)
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 (12), walks (140), hit by pitch (32). Defensively, SEMO leads the conference in walks allowed (84), innings pitched (219.0), fielding percentage (.971) and putouts (657). Individually, Tyler Wilber tops the league in doubles (9), and is tied for first in triples (3). Wilber also ranks among individuals in batting average (3rd, .376), on base percentage (4th, .478), and hits (t4th, 35). Alex Nieslen still holds the conference lead in sacrifice bunts with six. He is also tied for fourth in triples (2) and third in assists (62). Second baseman Connor Basler is ranked in walks (2nd, 21), stolen bases (t2nd, 10), and steal attempts (t2nd, 13). Dylan Dodd is tied for first in wins (4) and second in walks allowed (4). Nathan Bock is tied for third in both appearances (12) and games in relief (12). Freshman Noah Niznik rates third in runs allowed with just eight.
Injuries Hinder Redhawks
SEMO has been without five of its position starters due to injury. Outfielder Justin Dirden (wrist) has missed 23 games and outfielder Peyton Faulkner (hand) was out the last 14 contests. Catcher Wade Stauss (concussion) has been sidelined for nine games and first baseman Austin Blazevic (hand) has been out since the SIUE series (Mar. 15-17), totaling eight games. 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 road series at SIUE, SEMO had only two extra position players available and no left-handed hitters.
