Game 37
Southeast Missouri (21-15) at Murray State (23-9)
 
Game Information: 
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Murray, Ky. 
Venue: Johnny Reagan Field
Sawyers vs. MSU: 15-9
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Andy Sawyers (238-212 | Ninth Season)
MSU: Dan Skirka (188-144 | Seventh Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
X: @SEMOBaseball
Live Stats: goracers.com
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Glen Cantrell)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
Media Guide (PDF)
 
Redhawks Head to Longtime Rival Murray State Tuesday Evening
Southeast Missouri Baseball (21-15) will face former OVC-member and longtime rival Murray State (23-9) on Tuesday, April 15, in Murray, Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m., CT. from Johnny Reagan Field. 
 
Sawyers vs. Murray
Ninth year head coach Andy Sawyers has enjoyed success against the Racers entering Tuesday's contest with a 15-9 overall record in the matchup. In 2024, the Redhawks swept the season series with the Racers beginning with an 8-7 victory in Cape Girardeau (Feb. 21). SEMO Baseball made the return trip to Murray nearly two months later (Apr. 16) and defeated MSU 15-8. Tuesday's matchup marks the 25^th meeting with MSU in Coach Sawyers' tenure. 
 
Weekend Roundup
SEMO Baseball moved into a tie for second place in the Ohio Valley Conference table after winning two-of-three over the weekend against Eastern Illinois in Cape Girardeau. The Redhawks won both Saturday and Sunday's game(s) after dropping the longest game in conference history on Friday night, a 6-3 loss in 19 innings to Eastern Illinois. RHP Sam Heyman picked up his fourth win of the season in a career-outing on Saturday afternoon, pitching 7.0 innings (career-high) as the Redhawks held on for the 5-4 victory. First baseman Bryce Cannon was the hero on Sunday afternoon when his sixth home run of the season gave the Redhawks a walk-off victory, 7-6, to clinch the series. 
 
Heyman Shines
RHP Sam Heyman pitched a career high 7.0 innings in Saturday's 5-4 victory over Eastern Illinois. Heyman (4-3) allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out seven hitters en route to his fourth win of the 2025 campaign. In 40.1 innings pitched this season, Heyman has allowed just 21 earned runs on 44 hits and has struck out 30 opposing hitters. He has an ERA of 4.69 in nine starts. 
 
Complimentary Stat
With Heyman going 6.0+ innings on Saturday, the Redhawks extended their impressive record to 10-2 when a starting pitcher pitches six or more innings. 
 
The Kick and the Save
RHP Caden Kickhaefer picked up his first career save on Saturday afternoon in relief of Heyman. The Salina, Kansas-native pitched the final 2.0 innings of the contest, allowing no runs on just one hit over seven hitters faced. He punched out two Panthers to earn the save. On the season, Kickhaefer has made eight appearances out of the bullpen and has made two starts. In those 10 appearances, he has struck out 29 hitters over 19.2 innings. 
 
Interesting Comeback
The Redhawks picked up the series victory over Eastern Illinois on Sunday afternoon in a rare fashion over the course of the season. Trailing 6-5 after the sixth inning, the Redhawks came back to win 7-6 in 11 innings. The victory marked the first of its kind for the squad when trailing after six innings this season. 
 
He Called Game
First baseman Bryce Cannon delivered the game winning hit in Sunday's contest, walking off the Panthers with a solo home run in the bottom of the 11^th inning. Cannon's blast marked his sixth of the season and was the first walk-off home run this season for the Redhawks. Cannon is now tied with Michael Mugan & Cole Warehime for the most home runs on the team this season (6). 
 
Pennington Had a Week
Collinsville, Oklahoma-native Mason Pennington had a standout week beginning in a Tuesday start at Southern Illinois. Pennington pitched 6.0 innings against the Salukis, surrendering just one unearned run. He turned around on Sunday afternoon and pitched 3.1 innings against Eastern Illinois of no-hit, no run baseball. He allowed no runs for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon while striking out three Panthers. 
 
Holy Gavin 
RHP Gavin Johnston had an impressive outing in Friday's marathon game with Eastern Illinois. Johnston pitched a career-high 5.0 innings where he allowed no runs on just two hits and struck out a career-best eight hitters. Johnston pushed his strikeout total to 22 on the season and has an impressive 3.57 ERA after pitching a third-of-an-inning in Sunday's game. 
 
Offensive Leader
Outfielder Michael Mugan had a two-home run day on Sunday afternoon beginning in the first inning with a two-run shot to right field to give SEMO a 2-1 lead. Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Mugan crushed his second of the game to left center to extend the game to extra innings. For Mugan, the game marked the third multi-home run game of his SEMO career. He is now tied for the team-lead with six home runs in 2025. 
 
He Leads
Mugan leads in nearly every offensive category beginning with batting average. Mugan is the only Redhawk hitting north of .300 after the weekend at .308. He leads in runs scored (33), hits (44), RBIs (30), total bases (73), and sacrifice flies (3). 
 
Welcome Back, Andrew Ramirez
Infielder Andrew Ramirez returned to the SEMO lineup this weekend after missing the last 14 games due to an injury. Ramirez played in Saturday and Sunday's game at second base, marking his first two starts of the season at that position. He scored a run in each game and recorded a hit in Saturday's 5-4 victory. In 21 starts this season, Ramirez has an on-base percentage of .400 and is slugging .333. 
 
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio
Southeast Missouri Baseball ranks in the top 10 of all division I baseball in strikeout-to-walk ratio so far this season. The Redhawks rank ninth in the country with a 2.95 K/BB ratio and lead the OVC in the same category. Tennessee leads the country with a 4.05 K/BB ratio. 
 
Do What It Takes
Sophomore Brooks Kettering has been a staple at the top of the lineup of getting on base and moving runners when given the opportunity. Kettering leads the Redhawks and the OVC in walks (29) and ranks 93^rd in the country in base-on-balls. He also ranks second in the league at the sacrifice bunt and is 67^th in the country at sacrificing runners over.