Game 21
Southeast Missouri (11-9) at Middle Tennessee (12-7)
 
Game Information: 
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Venue: Reese Smith, Jr. Field
Sawyers vs. MTSU: 0-2
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Andy Sawyers (228-206, Ninth Season)
MTSU: Jerry Meyers (59-72, Third Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
X: @SEMOBaseball
Live Stats: goblueraiders.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
Media Guide (PDF)
 
Redhawks on Road Tuesday at Middle Tennessee
Southeast Missouri Baseball (11-9) will trek east to take on Conference USA member Middle Tennessee State (12-7) on Tuesday, March 18, in a midweek matchup. First pitch is slated for 4:00 p.m., CT. from Reese Smith, Jr. Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
 
Sawyers vs. MTSU
Tuesday's midweek matchup will mark the third time that head coach Andy Sawyers and the Redhawks have taken on the Blue Raiders in his nine years at the helm of the program. The Redhawks are 0-2 in the previous matchups with MTSU, most recently falling 8-2 last season (Mar. 5, 2024). The two teams will face off again in one week back in Cape Girardeau on Tuesday, March 25. 
 
Last Time Out
The Redhawks spent this past weekend at another Conference USA member in Jacksonville State. SEMO dropped two-of-three to the Gamecocks in Jacksonville, Alabama winning Friday's game two of the doubleheader by a final score of 3-1. RHP Nathan Mertens had a career outing pitching 7.0 innings and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts. Offensively, the Redhawks scored just eight runs as a team. Friday's game one saw JSU win 11-1 in seven innings before taking the rubber-match on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 5-4 in 10 innings. 
 
Final Tune Up
Tuesday's midweek contest will be the final non-conference matchup before the Redhawks begin Ohio Valley Conference play. After 20 games, SEMO sits at 11-9 and is in second place in the OVC table. SEMO Baseball will begin OVC play this weekend, March 21-23, in Martin, Tennessee to take on UT Martin. 
 
OVC Pitcher of the Week
RHP Nathan Mertens secured his first OVC 'Pitcher of the Week' honors after a career outing against Jacksonville State. The 6-3 junior from La Canada, California mowed down the Gamecocks in game two of Friday's doubleheader. Mertens allowed just one run against an offense that rattled off 11 runs in game one. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowed just six hits, and struck out a career-high 10 batters. 
 
League Standings
With just one game to play ahead of opening weekend in OVC play, the Redhawks are currently 11-9 overall which ranks them in second place. Tennessee Tech is leading the league with a 15-6 overall record. Morehead State (8-10), Lindenwood (9-12), and Southern Indiana (8-11) round out the top five in the league. 
 
Doubles
Coming into Tuesday's contest, SEMO Baseball ranks 75^th in the country in doubles so far this season. As a team, the Redhawks have recorded 40 doubles led by Bryce Cannon with seven. Three Redhawks are tied for second with six doubles in outfielders Ty Stauss, Michael Mugan, and Cole Warehime. SEMO ranks first in the OVC in doubles and trails national leader Georgia Tech (63). 
 
The Sac Bunt
The Redhawks have utilized the sacrifice bunt more than any team in the OVC this season. Through 20 games, SEMO has laid down 14 sacrifice bunts led by center fielder Michael Mugan (4). As a team, the Redhawks currently rank 24^th in the country in sacrifice bunts. 
 
Top 5
SEMO pitching has been among the nation's best this year and rank in the top five in the nation for strikeout-to-walk ratio. SEMO ranks fifth in the country with a 3.65 K/BB ratio and is the best in the OVC in the category. Tennessee leads the country with a 4.52 K/BB mark. 
 
Earned-Run-Average
Four Redhawks have a sub-2.00 ERA on the season so far, led by Nathan Mertens who has a 1.09 ERA. Cade Perkins (1.50 ERA), Jackson Kranawetter (1.96 ERA), and Haden Dow (1.97 ERA) round out the top four pitchers on the staff for ERA. As a staff, SEMO pitching ranks 57^th in the country with a 4.25 ERA. 
 
Buzzsaw
LHP Haden Dow is among the nation's best pitchers in hits allowed per nine innings. This season, Dow is allowing just 5.06 hits-per-nine and ranks 36^th in the nation for that category. In five starts, Dow has a 3-1 overall record and leads the team with 33 strikeouts on the season ranking him 56^th in the country for strikeouts. 
 
Best in the Nation
RHP Nathan Mertens has made three starts this season for the Redhawks on the mound. In five appearances, Mertens has record 31 strikeouts to just one walk in 24.2 innings pitched. He ranks first in the entire country in strikeout-to-walk ratio. 
 
Cannon Doubles
First baseman Bryce Cannon leads the club in doubles this season. The senior has seven doubles on the campaign and is coming off a two-double outing in Sunday's series finale at Jacksonville State. He now has four games in his Redhawk career with two doubles and is first in the OVC in doubles. 
 
Six Straight
Catcher Shea McGahan has reached base safely in six-straight games that he has been a part of. McGahan began his streak back on March 8 against Indiana State. During the streak McGahan has drawn six walks and recorded five hits. He currently leads the Redhawks in on-base percentage with a .472 mark. 
 
Multi-Hit Day
Left fielder Ty Stauss is coming off a multi-hit performance in Sunday's finale at Jacksonville State. Stauss has two games this season with three hits, including Sunday. He recorded the third game of his career with two doubles in a game. On the season, Stauss is hitting .260 with 20 hits, eight RBIs, and six doubles. 

The Outfield
SEMO Baseball has had its most offensive production from its outfield this season. Right fielder Cole Warehime and center fielder Michael Mugan lead the club in batting average with a .339 and .329 average, respectively. Warehime is leading the team with a .644 slugging-percentage and four home runs. He also leads the club with 16 RBIs. Mugan leads the team in hits (23), runs scored (19), and is second on the team with 15 RBIs. Left fielder Ty Stauss ranks third on the team with 20 hits, second on the team with six doubles, and is fourth with 26 total bases.