Game 23-25
Southeast Missouri (9-13, 0-0 OVC) at Eastern Illinois (5-13, 0-0 OVC)
 
Game Information:
Dates: Friday, March 22 – Sunday, March 24
Times: Friday: 2 p.m. | Saturday: 2 p.m. | Sunday: 1 p.m.
Location: Charleston, Ill. 
Venue: Coaches Stadium
Series: Tied: 43-43
 
Head Coaches: SEMO: Andy Sawyers (190-183, Eighth Season); EIU: Jason Anderson (194-216, Ninth Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
Twitter: @SEMOBaseball
Live Stats: SideArm Sports
Watch: Game 1 | Game 2
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
 
Redhawks Begin 2024 OVC Campaign at Eastern Illinois
Southeast Missouri Baseball (9-13, 0-0 OVC) will begin the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference season at Eastern Illinois (5-13, 0-0 OVC) beginning on Friday, March 22, at Coaches Stadium in Charleston, Ill. at 2 p.m. Saturday's game will begin at 2 p.m. with the series finale on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. 
 
Series History
The Redhawks and Panthers will meet for the 87th, 88th, and 89th time over the weekend with the series deadlocked at 43. Last season, EIU swept the regular season series in Cape Girardeau and defeated SEMO in the first round of the 2023 OVC Tournament in Marion, Ill. 
 
Last Time Out
SEMO Baseball most recently won a thrilling 8-7 ball game over Austin Peay on Tuesday night in Clarksville, Tenn. The Redhawks got on the board in the first inning with an RBI groundout by right fielder Josh Cameron. 
 
The Governors would respond with a three run first inning off starting pitcher Tommy Windt. Windt settled in and recorded scoreless innings over the next 3.0 innings to keep APSU at just three runs. 
 
SEMO would regain the lead in the top of the second inning with their own three-run inning thanks to defensive miscues by the Governors. Brooks Kettering reached on an error to allow Chance Resetich to score. Ben Palmer crushed a double to center field to score a pair of runners and the Redhawks led 4-3. 
 
In the third inning, catcher Nolan Ackerman roped a double into center field to score Ty Stauss and the Redhawks led 5-3 after the third inning. APSU took the lead in the sixth inning with another three-run innings as a two-run home run and an RBI double gave APSU a 6-5 lead heading into the final three innings. 
 
Ackerman's second RBI of the contest tied the game in the seventh inning as he laid down a perfect bunt, executing the squeeze play to score Stauss once again. 
 
Ben Palmer hit his team-leading seventh home run in the eighth to give the Redhawks a 7-6 lead. An APSU solo home run tied the game at seven as it headed to the ninth inning. 
 
The Redhawks drew three-straight walks in the ninth to setup a potential go-ahead scoring chance. A wild pitch allowed pinch-hitter Kenoi Coloma to score to make it 8-7 as the Redhawks held on for the victory. 
 
RHP Collin Wilma picked up his third save of the season, recording a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to end the game. 
 
Palmer Reaches Base
Short stop Ben Palmer, who has played and started all 22 games at short stop for the Redhawks, has reached base safely in all 22 games this season. Palmer is second on the team with a .439 on-base percentage. Outfielder Michael Mugan leads the team with a .481 OBP. 
 
2023 OVC Play
Last season, the Redhawks ended the conference regular season with a 14-10 OVC record and earned a No. 4 seed in the conference tournament. The Redhawks swept Lindenwood, Little Rock, Tennessee Tech, and current-OVC Member Western Illinois a season ago.  
 
Wilma Gets the Save
RHP Collin Wilma picked up his third save of the season in Tuesday's 8-7 win over Austin Peay. The senior came into the contest with a one-run lead and pitched a perfect three up, three down inning with a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to end the game. 
 
Logan Katen
LHP Logan Katen has had back-to-back impressive outings out of the bullpen for the Redhawks. Most recently, Katen was thrust into a crucial situation on Tuesday night where he entered with a runner on second and nobody out in the inning. Katen struck out the three batters he faced to strand a Governor at second and kept the Redhawks in front in the contest. Katen has an 8.10 ERA and 11 strikeouts so far in 2024. 
 
About EIU
EIU is led by ninth year head coach Jason Anderson and come into the contest with a 5-13 record overall. Last season, EIU stormed through the conference tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers are led offensively by Lucas Loos who leads the team in batting average (.364), slugging-percentage (.667), RBIs (17), and is tied for the team-lead in home runs (4). Cole Gober is second in batting average (.353) and leads the team in hits with 24. On the mound, Bryce Riggs leads the Panthers with a 2.84 ERA and has a team-high 18 strikeouts. Riggs has pitched in 19.0 innings this season as hitters are just .231 against him.