Games 5-8
Southeast Missouri (2-2) at Western Kentucky (2-2)
 
Game Information: 
Dates: Friday, February 20 – Saturday, February 21
Times: Friday: 12 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. | Saturday: 1 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Venue: Nick Denes Field
Sawyers vs. WKU: 1-2
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Andy Sawyers (337-251 overall; 249-224; 10^th Season)
WKU: Marc Rardin (117-64 at WKU; Fourth Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks
X: @SEMOBaseball 
Live Stats: wkusports.com
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
 
Game Notes (PDF)
Media Guide (PDF)

Baseball Hits Road for First Time at Western Kentucky; Series Altered 
Southeast Missouri Baseball (2-2) will travel away from Cape Girardeau for the first time this season beginning a four-game stretch outside of Capaha Field. The Redhawks will travel to Bowling Green, Kentucky to take on Conference USA member Western Kentucky for a four-game set. 
 
Series Altered
The Redhawks and Hilltoppers will still play four games this weekend, however, due to potential weather in the area the teams will play a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Friday's doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m., CT. while Saturday will get underway at 1 p.m. from Nick Denes Field in Bowling Green. 
 
Sawyers vs. WKU
The Redhawks and Hilltoppers will add just their fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh times under 10^th year head coach Andy Sawyers and the first time since the 2024 season. During the 2024 campaign, the Hilltoppers visited Cape Girardeau and took two-of-three from the Redhawks at Capaha Field. Following that series, Coach Sawyers stands at 1-2 against Western Kentucky on the diamond. 
 
High-Powered Tuesday 
The Redhawks wrapped up their season-opening homestand with an 11-3 domination of in-state foe Saint Louis (0-4) Tuesday night at Capaha Field. SEMO powered its way to 11 runs via 17 hits led by catcher Moises Rosario and third baseman Dakota Joggerst who each finished 3-4 at the plate with multiple RBIs. A five-run third inning from the Redhawks propelled the offense to adding three more runs in the fifth and sixth inning(s) to finish off the Billikens. RHP Andrew Carroll (1-0) made his first start in a SEMO uniform and was dominant as he allowed just two solo home runs and picked up his first win of the season. 
 
Team Speed
Southeast Missouri has opened the 2026 campaign with a willingness to steal bases with 10 total swipes as a team. The Redhawks currently rank second in the Ohio Valley Conference in stolen bases and are averaging 2.50 steals-per-game through four games. 
 
Love Shak
Demitri Shakotko picked up his first SEMO career steal on Tuesday afternoon against Saint Louis. In the bottom of the third inning, Shakotko stood on third base and swiped home on a double steal (Caleb Klein stole 2B) to put the first run of the game on the board for the Redhawks, sparking a five-run inning for the home team. 
 
3B
Infielder Dakota Joggerst made his second start of the season on Tuesday night, and his first start at third base. Joggerst, a Eureka, Mo.-native, roped his first SEMO career triple of the season en route to a three-hit day and marked the first triple of the season for the Redhawks. He also finished with a pair of RBIs which marked the first multi-RBI day for the corner infielder. Joggerst is hitting .625 through two games played this season. 
 
First Start, Big Day
Catcher Moises Rosario made his first start behind the plate on Tuesday evening. The catcher from Santo Domingo, Domincan Republic finished 3-4 at the plate and roped his first career double and home run in the same game. He also drove in four RBIs in the contest to lead the Redhawks offensively. Behind the dish, he fielded his position flawlessly and was responsible for nine putouts and one assist on the day. 
 
Powerful
Utility player Cal Sullivan has been on a tear to start the 2026 campaign. In his first season in a Redhawk uniform, Sullivan has made all four starts with three at first base and one behind the plate. He has three-straight games with two hits and is batting .375 overall this season. Against Saint Louis, Sullivan recorded his first double of the campaign and has three extra base hits this year. He leads the team in home runs with two and is slugging .813 through four games. 
 
Wear It
Designated hitter Joe Hall has been the Redhawks' DH in all four games this season. Hall has been plunked by opposing pitchers three times which leads the club and the Ohio Valley Conference in HBPs. He also is currently ranked 29^th in the country in the same category through four games. 
 
Hall Cont.
In addition to standing in, Hall has done work with the bat in his opportunities. In four games, Hall has recorded the fourth-most at bats this season (13) on the team. He has recorded five hits for a .385 batting average and has a .769 slugging-percentage. He has recorded two doubles, a home run, and driven in a pair of RBIs. He has struck out just twice this season. 
 
Do What it Takes
Through four games, the Redhawks have implemented small ball into their offensive gameplan effectively. Three players in Moises Rosario, Logan Yule, and Brooks Kettering all have a sacrifice bunt to their name as the Redhawks rank second in the OVC in sac bunts. Overall, SEMO ranks 20^th in DI Baseball in sacrifice bunts. 
 
Make 'Em Put it in Play
The pitching staff has picked up in 2026 where it left off in 2025 in getting opponents to swing and miss at the plate. The Redhawks currently rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio with a 3.30 mark. Overall, SEMO ranks 43^rd in the country in K/BB ratio. 
 
Great Start Andrew
RHP Andrew Carroll made his first career start in a SEMO uniform on Tuesday afternoon against Saint Louis. The junior from Scottsdale, Arizona pitched 4.2 innings and punched out three Billikens in his outing. He allowed just two earned runs on five hits and surrendered just one walk. Through two appearances, Carroll has a 5.14 ERA over 7.0 IP with five strikeouts and just two walks. 
 
Nard Dog
Senior Ranard Grace made his second appearance of 2026 on the mound for the Redhawks Tuesday afternoon. Grace had his best outing in 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball and punched out three Billikens in the effort. He now has six strikeouts this season which ranks second on the team, one behind Mason Pennington (7 Ks). He has a 4.91 ERA over 3.2 total innings this season. 
 
Good to See Ya, Kran
LHP Jackson Kranawetter made his first appearance on the mound in 2026 Tuesday afternoon. Kranawetter, the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference saves leader, pitched the final inning of the contest against Saint Louis. He allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of Billikens in just 1.0 innings of work.