Date: Monday, April 22, 2019
Time: Mon. 6 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Ballpark: Capaha Field (2,000)
Series: SEMO leads, 23-22
Last Meeting: SLU 15, SEMO 6 (April 9, 2019 / St. Louis, Mo.)
Head Coaches:
Andy Sawyers (160-106 overall; 73-78 at SEMO; 43-38 OVC)
Darin Hendrickson (381-285-1; 11th Season)
Media:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean & Jess Bolen)
Stats: Live Stats
Series History
The Redhawks lead the all-time series against Saint Louis, 23-22. Last season, the two teams faced off three different times with SEMO winning the first two contests by scores of 4-2 and 10-8. There has only been one shutout in program history against the Billikens (May 1, 2012). The Redhawks have scored at least a pair of runs in every contest against SLU. Most recently, the Redhawks fell 15-6 at Saint Louis on April 9, 2019.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to Monday'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 203 times this season, (5.1 per game), most in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tyler Wilber leads the team with 26 walks, followed closely by Hunter Southerland who has reached base on balls 24 times. SEMO pitchers have allowed just 151 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 53 times this season, for an OVC high. Hunter Southerland leads the team with 11 hit by pitches, followed by Danny Wright, and Connor Basler who both have seven a piece. In game two of their series against Western Illinois (Feb. 23), the Redhawks reached base five times by way of hit by pitch. Peyton Faulkner cracked into the school's top 10 career leaders in that category after being plunked 23 times. Danny Wright is two away from a spot on that list.
Hot Hitter
Tyler Wilber leads the team and the conference with a .400 batting average. Wilber has 33 RBI on 62 hits. He had a 20-game reach base safely streak come to an end against Missouri State. The Rossmoor, California native also has 16 doubles, three triples and two home run this season. He currently holds a .581 slugging percentage. The sophomore has 22 multiple hit games, with five games consisting of three hits and one game with four hits.
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 started the season with a 10-3 record, but has gone 7-20 since.
Leading the OVC (as of Apr. 17)
SEMO is leading the Ohio Valley Conference in various statistical categories through the first half of the season. The Redhawks lead the league in hit by pitch (46), walks (188), fielding percentage (.972) and walks allowed (135). SEMO is a close second in triples (12), and sacrifice bunts (22). Individually, Tyler Wilber leads the conference in batting average (.413), and doubles (15). He is tied for first in hits (59), and in triples (3). Wilber is in second with a .494 slugging percentage. Third baseman Alex Nielsenis tied for first in sacrifice bunts with nine this season. Left-handed pitcher Noah Niznik is tied for first in runs allowed (12) and in walks allowed (8). He is also second in the league in earned runs allowed (10) and tied for second in doubles allowed (4).
Injuries Hinder Redhawks
SEMO has been without five of its position starters due to injury. Outfielder Justin Dirden (wrist) has missed 38 games and catcher Wade Stauss (concussion) has been sidelined for 21 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. Outfielder Peyton Faulkner (hand) was out 19 contests before returning before the Jacksonville State series (Apr. 6). First baseman Austin Blazevic (hand) has been out since the SIUE series (Mar. 15-17), totaling 16 games. Both Fritts and Blazevic returned for the TTU series (Apr. 19-20). In its first conference road series at SIUE, SEMO had only two extra position players available and no left-handed hitters.
