Game 45
Missouri (21-33) vs. Southeast Missouri (31-13)
 
Game Information: 
Date: Tuesday, April 28
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Capaha Field
Sawyers vs. MU: 2-2
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Andy Sawyers (366-262 overall; 278-235 at SEMO; 10^th Season)
MU: Kerrick Jackson (60-104 at Missouri; Third Season)
 
Follow the Redhawks: 
X: @SEMOBaseball 
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Erik Sean)
Tickets
 
Redhawks Host Missouri Tuesday Evening for First Time Since 2006
Southeast Missouri Baseball (31-12) will return to midweek action this Tuesday, April 28, when they take on in-state foe Missouri (21-33) in the second-to-last midweek matchup of the season. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m., CT. from Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau. 
 
$2 Tuesdays
Tuesday's contest features '$2 Tuesdays' at the ballpark for all fans. Fans can enjoy $2 concession stand items throughout the contest. 
 
Sawyers vs. Missouri
The Redhawks and Tigers will meet for the fifth time overall under the guidance of 10^th year Head Coach Andy Sawyers. The two teams are split at 2-2 overall and have not met since the 2024 season. The Redhawks won the most recent meeting between the two with an 8-3 victory in Columbia, Mo. 
 
Welcome Back, to the Cap
SEMO Baseball welcomes Missouri back to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for the first time since the 2006 season. The Tigers were last in Cape Girardeau on March 29, 2006, and were defeated by the Redhawks by a final score of 3-2. The two teams split the season series in 2006 with Missouri winning the rematch in Columbia by a final score of 14-3. 
 
Weekend Recap
The Redhawks picked up a crucial series victory over SIUE winning 2-of-3 games this weekend in Cape Girardeau beginning with a 10-3 victory in game one on Friday night. RHP Nathan Mertens (4-2) was dominant, pitching a complete game allowing just two earned runs on four hits. He punched out eight Cougars and did not surrender a walk in the outing. Left fielder Joe Hall powered the Redhawks with a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, and five RBIs driven in. Catcher Tank Sims also homered in the contest to begin the series with a win. The Redhawks scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in Saturday's game two via three-straight, bases loaded walks and an RBI single from Cal Sullivan that scored two more runs to win it 5-1. RHP Mason Pennington got the start and pitched an impressive 5.1 innings allowing just one run. He punched out four in the outing before LHP Jackson Kranawetter came on in the ninth to record his ninth save of the season with the tying run on deck. The Redhawks got on the board in the bottom of the first inning in Sunday's finale, but four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and another four runs in the seventh saw SIUE take the final game, 9-2. Ryan Lopetegui drove in the game's first run before Demitri Shakotko hit an eighth inning, solo home run for the Redhawks' second run. 
 
OVC Player of Week
Sophomore Joe Hall of Southeast Missouri Baseball was named Ohio Valley Conference 'Player of the Week', the league announced on Monday morning. Hall, who joined the Redhawks this season from Adams State, helped lead the Redhawks to a 3-1 week last week including a Tuesday victory over Southern Illinois and a weekend series win against SIUE in Cape Girardeau. He finished the week going 8-17 at the plate for a .471 batting average. He recorded a pair of doubles, three home runs, and six RBIs. He recorded a 1.118 slugging-percentage and a .471 on-base percentage. He becomes the second Redhawk this season to win OVC 'Player of the Week' honors, joining teammate Dakota Joggerst (3/23) from earlier this season.
 
Tied All-Time
LHP Jackson Kranawetter recorded his 17^th career save on Saturday afternoon, and his ninth of 2026. After recording eight in 2025, Kranawetter is now tied for the program's all-time saves record with former RHP Kyle Miller (2021-24). With one more save, Kranawetter's 18 career saves will be the most by any Redhawk pitcher in the program's history. 
 
Shoved
RHP Nathan Mertens picked up his fourth win of the season on Friday night and tossed his first complete game of 2026. Mertens made his third start of the year and his first since all the way back on February 20 and punched out eight opponents, his second highest strikeout total of the season. Mertens threw the third complete game of the season from a Redhawk pitcher and used just 98 pitches to do so. He has a 4.21 ERA and has only surrendered two walks over 47.0 innings pitched. 
 
Locked at the Top
Southeast Missouri Baseball ended the weekend tied atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings. With a 12-6 record in OVC play, SEMO is in a four-way tie for first place with Eastern Illinois, Little Rock, and SIUE. The Redhawks will travel to Eastern Illinois this upcoming weekend for another crucial battle of the top teams in the OVC. 
 
Dynamic Duo
Center fielder Caleb Klein and DH/OF Joe Hall are the only two Redhawks who have started and played all 44 games this season. Klein leads the team in on-base percentage (.454) typically hitting in the leadoff spot this year. Hall leads the team in hits (66) and batting average (.361) while Klein is second in hits (58) and fifth in batting average (.330). 
 
30 is the Norm
The Redhawks eclipsed the 30-win mark over the weekend against SIUE. SEMO Baseball has now recorded 30 or more wins for the fifth time in 10 seasons under Head Coach Andy Sawyers. In three-of-the-four 30-win seasons under Sawyers, the Redhawks have advanced to the NCAA Regionals. The 2026 season marks the third-straight 30-win season for SEMO Baseball. 
 
#1
RHP Nathan Mertens ranks at the top of college baseball in two separate pitching categories. Mertens leads the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio and walks allowed per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 24.00 and has allowed just 0.38 walks per nine innings. In 47.0 innings, Mertens has punched out 48 opposing hitters and has allowed just two walks.