Missouri State (22-22) vs. Southeast Missouri (30-16)

Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2022
First Pitch: 5 p.m., CT
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Facility: Capaha Field (2,000)
Series History: MSU leads, 69-41
Last Meeting: MSU 16, SEMO 5 (May 20, 2022 | Springfield, Mo.)
Head Coaches: Andy Sawyers (235-161 overall; 148-131 at SEMO; 78-60 OVC). Keith Guttin (1,331-864 overall; 1,331-864 at MSU).

Follow the Redhawks
Radio: ESPN 93.5 FM & 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Live Stats: SEMORedhawks.com 
Twitter: @SEMObaseball
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri (PDF)

Probable Starting Pitchers
Tuesday - TBA (MSU) / Collin Wilma, RHP (SEMO)

Final Midweek Tilt  
Ohio Valley Conference co-leader Southeast Missouri (30-16) hosts Missouri State (22-22) in its final midweek matchup of the regular-season Tuesday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m., CT at Capaha Field.

Follow the Redhawks 
Listen on the radio at ESPN 93.5 FM and 1220 AM. Erik Sean will call the action. Live stats can be accessed at SEMORedhawks.com. Twitter updates available @SEMOBaseball.

Series History
Tuesday marks the fourth time in-state schools Southeast Missouri and Missouri State meet this season. The teams played a three-game series in Springfield earlier this year on Mar. 19-20. MSU won the series, 2-1. Overall, Tuesday marks the 111th time the Redhawks and Bears face each other. MSU leads the all-time series, 69-41.

Last Non-Conference Matchup
The Redhawks square off against Missouri State in their final non-conference game of 2022. Southeast Missouri is 17-11 in non-conference action. That mark includes an 11-1 record against non-league foes at Capaha Field.

Oklahoma State Recap 
The Redhawks dropped three games to #3 Oklahoma State (May 6-8). OSU was the second ranked opponent Southeast Missouri played this season. The Redhawks opened the 2022 slate with a stunning series win over then-#22 Dallas Baptist (Feb. 18-20). SEMO went 2-4 against ranked opponents this year.

Sperling Produces
Danny Sperling started two of Southeast Missouri's three games in the Redhawks latest series at #3 Oklahoma State (May 6-8). Sperling hit .500 with a run scored, double, three hits and three RBI. He also walked once and boasted a .571 on-base percentage against the Cowboys.

Redhawks Get 30 Wins
Southeast Missouri became the first team in the Ohio Valley Conference to reach 30 wins this season. SEMO picked up its 30th victory with a series-clinching 11-4 win at Belmont (May 1). The 30-win season is the second-straight with Andy Sawyers at the helm and 15th in program history. SEMO also won 30 or more games for the fifth time in eight years. SEMO's 30 wins are second in the OVC behind Belmont (31-16). One more victory will give Sawyers his most wins in a season in six years as SEMO's skipper.

Tied for First
The Redhawks and Belmont share the top spot in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with identical 13-5 league records. Southeast Missouri reclaimed first after its big series win at Belmont (Apr. 29-May 1). SEMO entered that series in second behind the Bruins, but took two of three to move into first. Eastern Illinois (9-5) rounds out the top three in the standings. SEMO has two series left in league play. The Redhawks host UT Martin (May 13-15) and close out the regular-season at Eastern Illinois (May 19-21) after they face Missouri State this week. 

150 On the Horizon
Andy Sawyers is two wins away from getting 150 as a head coach. Sawyers, who is in his sixth year at Southeast Missouri, is 148-134 all-time as an NCAA Division I head coach. He is 60-38 overall and 30-15 in the Ohio Valley Conference with one OVC regular-season and tournament title, and one NCAA Tournament berth since the start of the 2021 campaign.

Series Wins
The Redhawks claimed wins in 23 of their last 29 series dating back to their COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. At one time, Southeast Missouri posted 11-consecutive series wins during that stretch. This year, SEMO has claimed a total of 10 series victories. The Redhawks most series wins in a season under Head Coach Andy Sawyers stand at 11 during the 2021 campaign. 

Redhawks Third in Single-Season Home Runs
With its 78 home runs this season, Southeast Missouri passed its total of 37 homers in 52 games a year ago by a +41 margin. The 2022 team is now third all-time in single-season home runs during SEMO's NCAA Division I era. The single-season Division I record is 92 home runs set by the 2000 club. This year's 78 bombs are the most by a Andy Sawyers coached team. Here are the Redhawks top-five single-season home run marks since they turned Division I in 1991-92.
92 home runs -- 2000
90 home runs -- 1998
78 home runs -- 2022
76 home runs -- 2010
71 home runs -- 2009

Home Run Streak
Andrew Keck hit a home run in four-straight games from Apr. 29-May 3. Keck became the second Redhawk to accomplish the feat this season when he hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning at Missouri (May 3). Peyton Leeper also homered in four-straight games from Mar. 8-13.

Wilma is Back
Right-hander Collin Wilma returned from a stress fracture injury to make his first start on the mound in over a year at Missouri (May 3). Wilma worked 1.1 innings with one strikeout in a loss against the Tigers. He also gave up two runs on one hit. Wilma last pitched at Belmont on May 1, 2021 before making his first appearance and start of the season at Missouri.

Extra! Extra!
The Redhawks have gone to extra innings seven times this year. Southeast Missouri won a pair of 10-inning contests vs. Morehead State before falling at Southern Illinois (Apr. 26). SEMO then beat Belmont, 5-4, in a series-opening win in 10 innings on Apr. 29. The Redhawks are 6-1 in those matchups.

Keck's Hitting Streak Ends at 12 Games
Andrew Keck's 12-game hitting streak recently ended at Oklahoma State (May 7). Keck was the fourth Redhawk to put together a double-digit game hitting streak in 2022. His 12-game hitting streak stands tied for the longest on the team. He hit .533 with five runs, two doubles, three home runs, six RBI and a stolen base during his four starts from Apr. 26-May1. Keck had two hits in each of the first two games of the Belmont series (Apr. 29-30) and later finished his big week by going 3-for-4 with three runs, a double, home run and two RBI against the Bruins on May 1. He homered in all three games of the Belmont series en route to securing Co-Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors on May 2.

10 or More Home Runs
Four Redhawks have 10 or more home runs this season. Tyler Wilber leads the team with 15 round-trippers, while Andrew Keck follows close behind with 14. Jevon Mason and Lincoln Andrew round out that group with 11 and 10, respectively. Wilber and Keck rank tied for third and fifth among the Ohio Valley Conference's home run leaders.

Another Sweep
Southeast Missouri recorded its sixth series sweep of the season when it beat Morehead State (Apr. 22-23). SEMO won two of its three games against the Eagles by one run in extra innings. The Redhawks came from behind to win all three games.

Bombs Away
The Redhawks hit five home runs in a game for the fourth time this season in their series finale against Morehead State (Apr. 23). Lincoln Andrews accounted for three of those round-trippers in the doubleheader. Andrews hit a grand slam in SEMO's 16-9 victory and then homered twice in the Redhawks 9-8 win.

Second in Wins
Southeast Missouri ranks second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 30 wins this season. The Redhawks 16 losses are second-fewest in the OVC. SEMO is 48th in the nation with a .652 winning percentage.

Williams Strikes Out Nine
Austin Williams recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in his win over Tennessee Tech on Apr. 15. The nine strikeouts are the most in a game by any Southeast Missouri pitcher this season.

Two-Home Run Games
Andrew Keck became the fourth player to get two or more home runs in a game for the Redhawks this season when he homered twice at Tennessee Tech (Apr. 15). Lincoln Andrews (3, at Austin Peay, Apr. 2; 2, vs. Morehead State, Apr. 23), Ty Stauss (2, at Austin Peay, Apr. 3) and Tyler Wilber (2, vs. Valparaiso, Mar. 13) also reached the feat.

One Home Loss
The Redhawks saw a program record 17-game home winning streak end with its only loss at Capaha Field on Apr. 12. Southeast Missouri dropped a tight 3-2 contest to longtime rival Southern Illinois in the 91st meeting between the teams. It was the first time SEMO fell at home since May 21, 2021 (9-2, vs. UT Martin). The 17-game stretch was the second-longest home winning streak in the nation at the time.

Midweek Games
The Redhawks scored in every inning en route to blowing out Saint Louis, 16-5, in their first midweek game of the season on Mar. 1. SEMO established season-highs in runs (16) and hits (16) against the Billikens. SEMO also beat Arkansas State twice (Mar. 8, Apr. 5) and Saint Louis (Mar. 29) again, and toppled Ole Miss (Apr. 19). Additionally, the Redhawks dropped a 9-3 contest at Missouri (May 3). The Redhawks are 5-5 in midweek action this year. 

Great at Home
Southeast Missouri is 20-1 at home this season. The Redhawks won 22 of their last 24 matchups at Capaha Field dating back to the 2021 campaign. SEMO is 91-42 at home under Head Coach Andy Sawyers. The 20 home wins are most in the Ohio Valley Conference and most in a season under Sawyers. The Redhawks last had 20 home wins in a season during the 2010 campaign (21-6).

Best Home Record in the Country
The Redhawks (20-1) presently have the best home record in the nation. Central Michigan (16-1), Tennessee (30-2), Maryland (20-2) and UConn (17-2) complete the top-five home records in NCAA Division I baseball.

That Was Fast
With its win over Arkansas State on Apr. 5, Southeast Missouri reached 20 wins in a season quicker than it has ever done under Head Coach Andy Sawyers. The Redhawks 20th win came 25 days sooner than it did a year ago (Apr. 30, 2021).  

Longest Road Stretch
Southeast Missouri wrapped up its season-long eight-game road trip with a 2-6 record. SEMO won a three-game series at Belmont (Apr. 29-May 1) and fell to Southern Illinois (Apr. 26), Missouri (May 3) and #3 Oklahoma State (May 6-8) during that stretch.

Record Home Winning Streak
The Redhawks 17-game home winning streak marked the longest in program history. Southeast Missouri went undefeated through its first 17 home games of a season for the first time ever. Prior to this year, SEMO began the 2000 campaign at 13-0 at home. The Redhawks have the most home victories and best home record in the Ohio Valley Conference. 

Get Out the Brooms!
Southeast Missouri swept eight opponents this season. The Redhawks completed three-game sweeps vs. Bellarmine (Feb. 26-27), Bradley (Mar. 4-5), Valparaiso (Mar. 12-13), SIU Edwardsville (Mar. 25-27),  Murray State (Apr. 8-10) and Morehead State (Apr. 22-23). SEMO also swept its home-and-home series vs. Saint Louis and Arkansas State. The eight series sweeps are the most in a season with Andy Sawyers at the helm. In all, the Redhawks have 16 series sweeps under Sawyers. Interestingly enough, SEMO did not sweep any opponent during its entire 2021 campaign.

Getting On Base
Jevon Mason has reached base in 24 consecutive games and Andrew Keck has done the same in 23-straight contests. Mason's 24-game reached base streak is the longest on the team this season. Keck's 23-game stretch is alone in second.

Comeback Kids
The Redhawks have 21 come-from-behind victories this season, including 11 after they trailed in the first inning. Southeast Missouri came back to win 10 of its 18 Ohio Valley Conference games this year.

Wilber Wins First OVC Player of the Week Honor
Preseason Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Tyler Wilber won his first OVC Player of the Week honor on Apr. 11. Wilbertook over as Southeast Missouri's top hitter following four-straight multiple-hit performances last week. For the week, he hit .722 (13-for-18) with eight runs scored, a pair of doubles, two home runs, six RBI, a 1.167 slugging percentage and .722 on-base percentage. Wilber hit the go-ahead home run during game two vs. Murray State (Apr. 9) and the tying home run against the Racers on Apr. 10. For the Murray State series alone, Wilber had back-to-back four-hit games and one three-hit contest. He hit .786 with 11 hits in 14 at-bats and boasted a 1.286 slugging percentage in that series. Wilber raised his batting average 63 points from .304 to .367 during that four-game stretch. 

Walk-Off Wins
First baseman Lincoln Andrews snapped a 7-7 tie with a leadoff walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give Southeast Missouri an 8-7 come-from-behind win in its series-opener vs. Bellarmine (Feb. 26). The walk-off hit marked the first of Andrews' career. Brett Graber then delivered a RBI-single with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give SEMO an 11-10 win over Murray State (Apr. 10). Graber also hit a walk-off home run to give the Redhawks a 9-8 win in the 10th inning vs. Morehead State (Apr. 23).

Redhawks at Capaha
Just how good is Southeast Missouri at home? SEMO is hitting .309 and outscoring opponents by a staggering +92 margin (202-110). The Redhawks hit 44 home runs at Capaha Field for a little over two (2.09) per home contest. Additionally, SEMO has scored 10 or more runs 11 times and collected 10 or more hits a total of 13 times on its home field. Individually, Tyler Wilber boasts a .442 batting average with 29 runs, seven doubles, nine home runs and 32 RBI, while Brett Graber and Andrew Keck follow hitting .434 and .393 at home, respectively.

Marching On

Southeast Missouri finished with a 13-4 record in March, its best in that month under Head Coach Andy Sawyers. In its 17 March contests, SEMO outscored its opponents by a +42 margin (136-94) and hit 28 home runs.

Andrews Notches Career-High in Home Runs 
First baseman Lincoln Andrews went 3-for-4 with a career-high three home runs at Austin Peay (Apr. 2). Andrews homered in each of his first three at-bats of the game with a solo bomb in each of the second and sixth innings, and a two-run shot in the fourth. He became the first Redhawk to hit three home runs in a game since fellow first baseman Matt Tellor accomplished the feat at UT Martin (Mar. 30. 2014).

Wilber Hits 20th Career Home Run
Tyler Wilber hit his 20th career home run to clinch Southeast Missouri's 6-5 win over Austin Peay (Apr. 3). Wilber's solo shot in the top of the ninth inning loomed large in the end of the close contest. He hit his 20th career home run on the day he made his 150th career start as a Redhawk. Wilber was also ranked as the #22 shortstop in the country by D1Baseball during week six (Mar. 28-Apr. 3).

Best Start in Division I Era
The Redhawks began the 2022 season at 13-1, their best start in their NCAA Division I era. Southeast Missouri moved to the D-I ranks in 1992. SEMO's 13-1 start tied with the 1973 team which also won 13 of its first 14 contests.

RPI Update
Southeast Missouri has a RPI rating of 49 (through games of May 3). SEMO currently holds the highest RPI of any team in the Ohio Valley Conference. This year is the highest SEMO has ranked in RPI under Head Coach Andy Sawyers. The Redhawks other RPI rankings with Sawyers at the helm include 87th (2021), 136th (2017), 200th (2018, 2020) and 259th (2019). SEMO has faced five teams ranked among the top 63 in RPI, including Oklahoma State (3rd, 0-3), Dallas Baptist (5th, 2-1), Missouri (40th, 0-1), Ole Miss (59th, 1-0) and Belmont (63rd, 2-1). The Redhawks are 5-6 in those contests.

Miller Gets Pair of Saves
Right-hander Kyle Miller pitched five scoreless innings out of the bullpen en route to picking up two saves in Southeast Missouri's sweep of SIU Edwardsville (Mar. 25-27). Miller struck out four and allowed only one hit in three innings during game one. In the series finale, he struck out three and gave up just one hit in two more scoreless innings. For the weekend, Miller struck out seven, walked two and scattered two hits in five innings. He has allowed only four earned runs in 27.2 innings through 14 relief appearances this season. Miller ranks tied for third in the Ohio Valley Conference with six saves. He also leads the team and ranks second in the league with five wins (5-2).

Keck Triples and Scores
After Tyler Wilber's game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning vs. Murray State (Apr. 10), Andrew Keck tripled and later scored the winning run in Southeast Missouri's 11-10 victory. The triple was Keck's first of the season. 

OVC Slate
The 24-game Ohio Valley Conference slate for the reigning OVC Champion and preseason favorite Southeast Missouri baseball team started with a series sweep of SIU Edwardsville (Mar. 25-27). The rest of the league schedule includes home series with Murray State (Apr. 8-10), Morehead State (Apr. 22-24) and UT Martin (May 13-15). SEMO's OVC road schedule consists of Austin Peay (Apr. 1-3), Tennessee Tech (Apr. 14-16), Belmont (Apr. 29-May 1) and Eastern Illinois (May 19-21).

Yard Work
Southeast Missouri has homered in 35 of its 46 games and hit a series-best 10 round-trippers vs. Valparaiso (Mar. 12-13). SEMO finished with a season-high five home runs in two games -- vs. Bradley (Mar. 4); vs. Valparaiso (Mar. 13). Twenty-four of the Redhawks home runs have come against Missouri Valley Conference teams. SEMO is second in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Tennessee Tech (86) with 78 home runs. The Redhawks have hit a home run in 12 of their last 14 games.

Atop the OVC
As a team, Southeast Missouri leads the Ohio Valley Conference in RBI (323). Individually, Tyler Wilber leads the league in RBI (58) and Jevon Mason is first among league leaders in runs (56). Jason Rackers is first in strikeouts looking (20).

Bullpen Gets it Done
Southeast Missouri's bullpen did not allow a run in four-straight games from Mar. 25-29.. SEMO's relievers combined to pitch 19.1 scoreless innings and allowed only four hits in that span. The bullpen also accounted for 16 strikeouts, three wins and two saves during that time.

They Did That Twice?
In each of the final two games of its series against Valparaiso (Mar. 13), Southeast Missouri homered three times and scored six runs in an inning. SEMO trailed, 6-3, in game one before Peyton Leeper, Tyler Wilber and Lincoln Andrews homered in the bottom of the fourth. That six-run inning lifted the Redhawks to a 16-6 win as SEMO scored the final 13 runs of the game. In game two, the Redhawks were down, 3-0, when Jevon Mason, Wilber and Brett Graber homered as part of a six-run third inning. SEMO later won that contest by a score of 10-8. The Redhawks fell behind in the first inning during every game against Valparaiso before sweeping the series with three come-from-behind victories.

Seeing Double
The Redhawks scored double-digit runs 15 times this season. Southeast Missouri scored 10 or more runs in seven consecutive games for the first time in program history from Feb. 27-Mar. 8. The Redhawks rank tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference with 327 runs.

Power Outage
Ten different players have homered for Southeast Missouri this season. Tyler Wilber leads the Redhawks with 15 home runs, while Andrew Keck (14), Jevon Mason (11) and Lincoln Andrews (10) join Wilber with 10 or more homers. Peyton Leeper and Brett Graber have six and Ty Stauss and Ben Palmer each have five. Joel Vaske and Spencer Parker have four apiece. 

Leeper Tabbed OVC Player of the Week
Southeast Missouri utility player Peyton Leeper won Southeast Missouri's first Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honor of the 2022 season on Mar. 14. A native of Mokane, Missouri, Leeper homered in all four of his starts last week helping the Redhawks extend their winning streak to 11 games. He broke SEMO's series-opener against Valparaiso (Mar. 12) open with a grand slam, the first of his career. Leeper then homered in both games of the series-ending doubleheader against the Beacons the following day. His second round-tripper that day was a game-winning two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning during the nightcap. Leeper's other home run for the week came in a midweek matchup at Arkansas State (Mar. 8). In the Valparaiso series alone, Leeper finished with three home runs, six runs scored and nine RBI. For the week, he hit .353 with four of his six hits coming via the long ball. He scored nine times, had 10 RBI, boasted a 1.059 slugging percentage, recorded a .500 on-base percentage and was a perfect 3-of-3 in stolen bases. Leeper carries a six-game hitting streak into this week's action. Leeper won the award for the first time in his career. UT Martin right-hander Rhett Fetner (Pitcher of the Week) rounded out the week's honorees.

Wilber Clears 200 Hits
Tyler Wilber went over 200 career hits in the Redhawks series sweep of Valparaiso (Mar. 12-13). Wilber hit a team-high .500 in the series. He had four runs, six hits, three home runs, seven RBI and a 1.250 slugging percentage against the Beacons. Wilber got his 200th career hit on a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning during game two of the series. He now has 248 hits in his career.

Over 150
Andrew Keck (193) surpassed 150 hits in his career against Valparaiso (Mar. 12-13). Keck hit .357 with a run scored, home run and two RBI against the Beacons. He is the second player on this year's team to reach 150 or more hits joining Tyler Wilber (248). Jevon Mason became the third player on this year's roster to get over 100 career hits (112).

NCAA Division I Rankings (Top-25)
As of games through May 8 the Redhawks rank among the top 25 NCAA Division I teams home runs per game (17th, 1.7) and home runs (16th, 78). Individually, Tyler Wilber is 20th in RBI (58) and Jevon Mason rates 23rd in runs (56) and 25th in runs per game (1.2).

Stealing the Show
Andrew Keck is 10-of-14 on the basepaths this season. Keck has 44 stolen bases and is ninth on Southeast Missouri's all-time career stolen base list. Jevon Mason leads SEMO in stolen bases with 16 in 18 attempts.

Double-Digit Hits
Southeast Missouri registered double-digit hits in 22 games. SEMO is 19-3 in games when it gets 10 or more hits. It finished with a season-high 16 hits vs. Saint Louis (Mar. 1) and Valparaiso (Mar. 13).

RBI Guys
Tyler Wilber and Andrew Keck are first and fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference with 58 and 53 RBI, respectively. Wilber (17) and Keck (16) have combined for 33 multiple-RBI games this season.

Career Day for Keck
Catcher Andrew Keck went 4-for-5 with a grand slam, double, two singles, four runs scored, two stolen bases and seven RBI to lead Southeast Missouri to its win over Saint Louis (Mar. 1). Keck hit safely in each of his first three at-bats. His four runs and seven RBI are new career-highs, while his four hits match a career-best. Keck leads the team with a .412 batting average.

Grand Slamming
Andrew Keck hit his second grand slam in three days against Saint Louis (Mar. 1). Keck launched his team-high third home run of the season over the left field wall in the bottom of the sixth inning. He smashed his first career grand slam to help send Southeast Missouri to a 10-2 win over Bellarmine (Feb. 27). That round-tripper came in the bottom of the first inning against the Knights.

Mason Plays Strong
Leadoff man Jevon Mason is Southeast Missouri's fourth-leading hitter with a .306 batting average. Mason ranks first on the team in runs (56), tied for third in doubles (11) and third in home runs (11). He is also third on the team in slugging percentage (.579) and third in on-base percentage (.419) through 46 starts.

Over .300
Southeast Missouri has four players hitting over .300 through 46 games this season. Andrew Keck leads the team with a .367 clip, while Tyler Wilber (.340), Brett Graber (.324) and Jevon Mason (.306) follow. Those four players have accounted for 177 RBI, as well.

Six-Inning Starts
Left-hander Noah Niznik and right-hander Jason Rackers have combined for seven, six-inning starts this season. Niznik went six innings to beat Bellarmine for his first win on Feb. 27 allowing just one run on five hits. He also struck out two and walked one in his longest start since pitching seven innings in a no-decision vs. Austin Peay (Mar. 20, 2021). Rackers picked up his second victory of the year after scattering four hits, giving up three runs and striking out four in six innings at Missouri State (Mar. 19). He then collected six strikeouts when he worked six innings in a no-decision vs. SIU Edwardsville (Mar. 25). Niznik worked six innings with seven strikeouts in a no-decision at Austin Peay (Apr. 2). Most recently, Rackers had a season-high seven strikeouts in a win over Murray State (Apr. 8) and worked a season-long 7.1 innings with five strikeouts in a no-decision at Belmont (Apr. 29).

What a Weekend!
The Redhawks used a pair of extra inning victories to win their season-opening series on the road at #22 Dallas Baptist (Feb. 18-20). Southeast Missouri stunned the Patriots with 7-6 win in 12 innings on Feb. 18, a game that lasted four-and-a-half-hours. In less than 24 hours, the Redhawks turned around to come-from-behind and beat DBU, 6-5, in 10 innings during another one-run affair. SEMO claimed a series win against a ranked opponent for only the second time in program history. The Redhawks also took two of three at then-#16 Alabama to open the 2009 campaign.

Miller Named OVC Pitcher of the Week
Southeast Missouri sophomore right-hander Kyle Miller won the first Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week award of the 2022 season on Feb. 21.  Miller picked up his first win of the season at #22 Dallas Baptist on Feb. 18. He came out of the bullpen to toss six scoreless innings to help lead the Redhawks to a 12-inning one-run upset of the nationally-ranked Patriots. Miller struck out four, walked two and allowed only three hits in his first appearance of the year as SEMO posted a series win against a ranked opponent for only the second time in program history.

Season 64
The 2022 campaign marks Southeast Missouri's 64th year of college baseball. The Redhawks are in their 31st season as an NCAA Division I program. SEMO is 1,424-1,154 all-time and 889-766-1 at the NCAA Division I level since the inception of its baseball program. The Redhawks have a 444-299-1 record in Ohio Valley Conference play. SEMO won five OVC regular-season titles (2002, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021), four OVC Tournament crowns (1998, 2002, 2016, 2021) and made four NCAA Tournament appearances (1998, 2002, 2016, 2021) in program history.

OVC Preseason Favorite
Southeast Missouri was tabbed the preseason favorite in the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Preseason Poll on Feb. 10. The reigning OVC regular-season and tournament champion, SEMO received eight of the possible 18 first-place nods in the overall voting by league Head Coaches and Communication Directors. SEMO accumulated a total of 114 points, while Murray State – which the Redhawks beat to win the OVC Tournament crown in 2021 – was picked second with four first-place votes and 104 points. Morehead State (93 pts.), Austin Peay (87 pts.) and Belmont (86 pts.) round out the top five, while SIU Edwardsville (55 pts.), Eastern Illinois (50 pts.), Tennessee Tech (43 pts.) and UT Martin (16 pts.) complete the nine-team predicted order of finish. 

2022 Redhawks
The Redhawks 2022 roster consists of 38 players, including four seniors, 16 juniors, nine sophomores and nine freshmen. Southeast Missouri returns five position starters and two starting pitchers. SEMO also has each of its top five hitters back from last season.

Wilber Named OVC Preseason Player of the Year
Senior shortstop Tyler Wilber was voted the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Player of the Year. A native of Los Alamitos, California, Wilber started all 52 games last season. A Second-Team All-OVC pick, he was Southeast Missouri's leading hitter witha .378 batting average. Wilber also led the Redhawks in RBI (49), total bases (109), slugging percentage (.542), and hits (76). He finished the regular-season with a league-best .400 batting average. Additionally, Wilber was a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award.

Batting Titles
Tyler Wilber won the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season batting title twice in his career to date. Wilber was hitting .400 at the end of regular-season play in 2021 and hit .383 during the 2019 campaign. 

What a Career!
Tyler Wilber is in his fourth-year as Southeast Missouri's starting shortstop. Wilber has a career batting average of .376. His batting average is the second-highest in a career among players in SEMO's NCAA Division I era behind Todd Shylanski (.387, 1991-92). Wilber ranks fourth all-time among the Redhawks career leaders in batting average and sixth in on-base percentage (.467). He has 248 hits, 147 runs, 52 doubles, six triples, 26 home runs and 159 RBI in 170 starts. 

Mason Secures Preseason All-OVC Honors
Left fielder Jevon Mason joined Tyler Wilber on this year's Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Team. Mason, who hails from West Des Moines, Iowa, made the league's All-Tournament Team in his first year as a Redhawk in 2021. He ranked second on the team with a .350 batting average behind Wilber. Mason led Southeast Missouri with 14 doubles and boasted a team-best .447 on-base percentage.  

170 and Counting
Tyler Wilber has never missed a start in his Southeast Missouri career. The shortstop has started 170 consecutive games as the most experienced player on the roster. Wilber committed only nine errors in 52 starts at short in 2021.

SEMO Spring Fact
Southeast Missouri's baseball (20-1), softball (14-0) and women's tennis (4-2) teams are a combined 38-3 at home this season. All three are were Ohio Valley Conference Champions in 2020-21. Additionally, the women's tennis team won this year's OVC Tournament crown and punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.

From Walk-On to Scholarship
What a rookie season right-hander Kyle Miller had for Southeast Missouri in 2021. Miller, who joined the team as a walk-on, compiled a 4-2 record in 20 appearances and five starts. He rated third on the team with 52 strikeouts in 51.1 innings. Miller picked up his first career save on six outs in the Redhawks season-opening win at South Alabama a year ago and then finished his freshman year by throwing a complete game two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in the Redhawks Ohio Valley Conference Tournament Championship win over Murray State. Miller begins his 2022 campaign as a scholarship player.