Murray State (24-21, 10-8 MVC) vs. Southeast Missouri (26-19, 14-4 OVC)
 
Dates: Tuesday, May 2
Times: 6 p.m., CT. 
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.  
Facility: Capaha Field
Series: SEMO leads 70-61-1
Head Coaches: Andy Sawyers (268-186 overall; 181-159 at SEMO; 95-67 OVC). | Dan Skirka (121-108 overall; Same at Murray; 10-8 MVC)
 
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Twitter: @SEMObaseball 
 

Redhawks Set To Battle Longtime Rival Murray State Tuesday
Southeast Missouri (26-19, 14-4 OVC) will be back in action on Tuesday, May 2, when they take on Murray State (24-21, 10-8 MVC) in a matchup between two longtime rivals. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m., CT. at Capaha Field. 
 
Fill The Hill Tuesday
'Fill the Hill'  is back for Tuesday's midweek matchup. Complimentary adult beverages will be provided by Kohlfeld Distributing to anyone 21+ with a valid I.D.  
 
Coolers are also allowed on Tuesday for fans wanting to bring their own drinks to the stadium. Fans are welcome to bring their own coolers stocked with their favorite beverages to the ballpark for a nominal fee at the gate. Cost is $10 for any size cooler. Coolers may contain beverages only as outside food is prohibited. 
 
Series History
The Redhawks and Racers will matchup for the 133^rd time on Tuesday evening, having already faced off once this season in a 11-8 Murray State win in Murray, Ky on April 4. 
 
The Redhawks were on a four-game winning streak in the series matchup prior to the April matchup, and currently maintain a 70-61-1 advantage in the overall series. 
 
Tuesday's contest will mark the second time that these two have faced-off as non-conference opponents as 2023 marks the first year for the Racers in the Missouri Valley Conference. 
 
Players of the Week
Southeast Missouri Baseball swept the weekly awards in the Ohio Valley Conference this week as LHP Noah Niznik and outfielder Brett Graber were selected as Pitcher of the Week, and Co-Player of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday afternoon.
 
Niznik, a St. Louis, Mo.-native, dominated the Lindenwood Lions on Friday night tossing a complete game, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs. The lefty struck out seven Lions over the nine innings to pick up his sixth win of the season.
 
The nine inning complete game was the first of his career. 
 
For Niznik, the Pitcher of the Week award is his first of the season. 
 
Brett Graber had his best four-game stretch of the season beginning on Tuesday night against Southern Illinois (4/25) where he finished 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lead SEMO to a 6-2 victory over the Salukis. 
 
Graber continued his ways over the weekend against Lindenwood where the outfielder registered nine RBIs over the three games, including a home run and three doubles. 
 
He finished the week going 8-for-14 (.571) and had a slugging percentage of 1.000. Graber also accounted for six runs and had an on-base percentage of .600 over the four-game week. 
 
For Graber, the Co-Player of the Week award is his first of the season. 
 
Last Week
The Redhawks took all three games over the weekend against Lindenwood in dominating fashion beginning on Friday night with a complete game from LHP Noah Niznik. 
 
Niznik allowed just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven over the nine innings to secure a 10-2 win for the Redhawks. Outfielder Brett Graber paced the offense in game one going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. 
 
Saturday, the Redhawks won 12-1 behind another impressive pitching performance, this time from RHP Esteban Hernandez who made his second career start for SEMO. 
 
Hernandez pitched seven innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. The Yuma, Ariz.-native punched out three Lions in only 88 pitches. 
 
Jevon Mason, Josh Cameron, and Brett Graber each registered a home run in Saturday's contest.
 
The series finale was much of the same as the Redhawks closed out the series in seven innings by a final score of 20-8. 
 
Josh Cameron hit home runs 15 & 16 including a walk-off three-run bomb in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure SEMO's 14th conference win of the season.  
 
The Outfield
Jevon Mason, Josh Cameron, and Brett Graber powered SEMO over the past week. The outfield trio started every
game for the Redhawks and accounted for 27 of SEMO's 44 RBIs. 
 
Cameron & Mason had three home runs each. 
 
The trio also accounted for 22 of the 48 runs scored by the Redhawks over the week.
 
Starting Pitching
A big key to the Redhawks success this past week started on the mound as all four starters this week registered a win
in impressive fashion. 
 
RHP Payton Lawrence picked up the win Tuesday night as the Illinois-native pitched 6.1innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. He struck out seven and had a 2.84 ERA. 
 
Noah Niznik allowed just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out seven over the nine innings to secure a 10-2 win for the Redhawks Friday night. 
 
Esteban Hernandez picked up his second win in his second career start, pitching 7.0 innings, allowing just two hits. 
 
LHP Haden Dow pitched 5.0 innings on Sunday to secure the sweep of Lindenwood as the lefty allowed just two runs on two hits, striking out three.
 
 The Left Side
Short stop Peyton Leeper and third baseman Danny Sperling had a big week for the Redhawks. Leeper went 5-for-14 (.357) including a double and a triple with an RBI. 
 
Sperling finished his week with a .545 batting average (6-for-11) with six RBIs.
 
About Murray
The Racers come into the midweek matchup with SEMO on a two-game win streak having most recently taken 2-out-of-3 from Belmont over the past week. 
 
Murray State is currently 24-21 overall with a 10-8 Missouri Valley conference record in their first season in the conference. 
 
The Racers offense is led by Dustin Mercer. Mercer is hitting .346 on the season with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. Carson Garner leads the team with 44 RBIs and is third on the team with a .280 batting average. 
 
As a team, Murray is hitting .281 over 45 games. 
 
The Racers pitching staff is led by Jacob Pennington. Pennington is 5-3 on the season with a  3.37 ERA over 69.1 innings pitched. He is second on the staff with 54 strikeouts as opposing teams are hitting just .215 off of him. 
 
Bryce Valero is 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA and leads the pitchers with 58 strikeouts.