Date: Fri., April 26 - Sun. April 28, 2019
Time: Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 6 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m., CT
Location: West Lafayette, Ind.
Ballpark: Alexander Field (2,000)
Series: Purdue leads, 3-2
Last Meeting: SEMO 17, Purdue 7 (March 5, 2018 / Cape Girardeau, Mo.)
Head Coaches:
Andy Sawyers (162-106 overall; 75-78 at SEMO; 43-38 OVC)
Mark Wasikowksi (81-73; Third Season)
Media:
Radio: SEMO ESPN 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Video: Big Ten Network
Series History
The Boilermakers lead the all-time series against Southeast, 3-2. This will be the first time the Redhawks play in West Lafayette, Indiana as the past five contests have been at Capaha Field. The last time the Redhawks faced Purdue was in 2017 when the Boilermakers came to Cape Girardeau for a three-game series. SEMO defeated Purdue in the series finale, winning 17-7 to avoid the sweep. The Redhawks dropped the first two games of that series, 4-0, 13-5.
Follow the Redhawks
Fans can listen to this weekend's games live on the radio at SEMO ESPN 1220 AM with Erik Sean calling the action. Live stats are available at PurdueSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMObaseball.
Walk This Way
Southeast Missouri walked 210 times this season, most in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tyler Wilber leads the team with 28 walks, followed closely by Hunter Southerland who has reached base on balls 25 times. SEMO pitchers have allowed just 158 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 56 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 and Wright have cracked into the school's top 10 career leaders in that category after being plunked 24 times.
Hot Hitter
Tyler Wilber leads the team and the OVC with a .391 batting average. Wilber has 33 RBI on 63 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 runs this season. He currently holds a .565 slugging percentage. He has 22 multiple hit games, with six games consisting of three or more hits as a sophomore.
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 9-20 since.
Leading the OVC (as of Apr. 17)
SEMO is leading the Ohio Valley Conference in various statistical categories this 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 (.400) and doubles (16), and is tied for first in triples (3). He ranks among league leaders in on-base percentage (2nd, .484) and hits (3rd, 62). Left-handed pitcher Noah Niznik is second in runs allowed (16) and earned runs allowed (14). Danny Wright is tied for first in the conference with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Meanwhile, Alex Nielsen is tied for first with nine sacrifice bunts.
Injuries Hinder Redhawks
SEMO has been without five of its position starters due to injury. Outfielder Justin Dirden (wrist) has missed 40 games and catcher Wade Stauss (concussion) has been sidelined for 23 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.
