Austin Peay Governors Baseball begin their Ohio Valley Conference run this Friday against the Southeast Missouri Redhawks

Southeast Missouri vs. Austin Peay Men’s Baseball
Friday-Sunday,  March 23rd-25th, 2012
Cape Girardeau, MO | Capaha Field (2,000)

Clarksville, TN – Austin Peay’s baseball team – the defending Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champions – begins the run for the 2012 OVC crown with a visit to rival Southeast Missouri this weekend.

The teams will play in the new OVC weekend format for the first time, with a three-game series set to begin with a 3:00pm, Friday contest at Capha Field. The teams will continue the series with a 1:00pm, Saturday contest before wrapping the series with a 1:00pm, Sunday outing.

Austin Peay enters OVC play with losses in seven of its last 10 outings. The Govs have not won back-to-back games since concluding a four-game win streak with a win at Alabama A&M, March 6th. Austin Peay is averaging 5.0 runs per game and batting .251 over its last 10 games. However, 20 of the team’s 50 runs in those 10 games came in this week’s two midweek outings.

Junior outfielder Cody Hudson has found his stroke during his current five-game hit streak, batting .600 (12-of-20) with six RBI. Senior designated hitter Jon Clinard is batting .395 with five RBI during his current nine-game hit streak. However, the 3-4-5 part of the Govs order – senior third baseman Greg Bachman, sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins and junior shortstop Reed Harper – are hitting .224 collectively during the Govs current 10-game stretch.

On the mound, the Govs will turn to sophomore Ryan Quick and senior Zach Toney for Games 1 and 2… Quick has began 2012 with five consecutive quality starts and brings a 2.45 ERA into the weekend – the second best ERA among OVC starters this season. Toney bounced back from his worst career outing by limiting Ohio State to two runs over 7.1 innings last weekend.

The Govs No. 3 starter will be determined during the weekend, but senior Lucas Anderson started last weekend at Ohio State and he has a 1-1 record and 4.25 ERA as a starter. Austin Peay was picked to finish first in the OVC’s preseason poll. Four Governors were selected to the league’s preseason team – Toney, Harper, senior outfielder Michael Blanchard and sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins… Austin Peay returns 7 of its 8 defensive starters from last season.

About Southeast Missouri

The Redhawks have lost 11 of their last 13 outings entering OVC action.  Southeast Missouri has been outscored 143-70 during those 13 games. The Redhawks traveled to New Mexico State last weekend and were swept – 9-1, 23-7 and 8-6 – before returning home to host Missouri State, dropping a 8-1 decision, Tuesday.

Senior third baseman Trenton Moses has been red hot through 22 games, leading the league in all three triple crown categories – batting average (.481), home runs (9) and RBI (30). Senior shortstop and leadoff hitter Trenton Parmley has set the table for Moses, batting .414 with a .480 on-base percentage… as a team, Southeast Missouri is batting .293 (2nd in OVC) with a league best 6.5 runs per game.

Southeast Missouri’s pitching has been a concern, ranking 10th among OVC programs with a 7.73 ERA… the Redhawks pitchers rank 2nd among league staffs with 7.92 strikeouts per game but rank 10th with 7.14 walks allowed per game. Sophomore lefty Christian Hull will bring a 2-2 record and 5.62 ERA into Friday’s opener with 27 strikeouts in 24.0 innings. Junior Shae Simmons is seeking his season’s first win (0-3) and will bring a 5.32 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 22.0 innings pitched into Saturday’s contest.

Cardiac Govs

The Govs have three walk-off victories to their credit this season, including two in extra innings. Senior third baseman Greg Bachman became the latest walk-off hero, with an RBI single against Arkansas State in a 10-9, 11-inning victory, March 11th.

Sophomore second baseman Jordan Hankins had a game-winning single in the Govs 10-inning victory against Iowa, March 3rd, and junior shortstop Reed Harper belted a walk-off solo home run against Illinois State, February 18th.

Over When Its Over

Five times this season – all in March – Austin Peay has needed extra innings to decide a contest, including the first two games of its three-contest series at Ohio State, March 16th-18th. The Govs have a 3-2 record when they play bonus baseball.

Govs Pitchers Retire Red Wolves

Austin Peay’s pitchers recorded 16 strikeouts against Arkansas State, March 11th. It was the most strikeouts recorded in a single-game since the start of the 1996 season. Junior Tyler Rogers notched seven of those strikeouts in 4.1 innings of relief before senior Mike Hebert followed with eight strikeouts in the final 4.0 innings.

Game Start Times

Date	Time (CT)	Austin Peay Starter	Opponent’s Starter	APSU Radio/Internet
Fri.	3:00pm	RHP Ryan Quick	LHP Christian Hull	WVRY 105.1 FM
		(RSo., 1-0, 2.45 ERA)	(So., 2-2, 5.62 ERA)	LetsGoPeay.com
Sat.	1:00pm	LHP Zach Toney	RHP Shae Simmons	WVRY 105.1 FM
		(Sr., 1-2, 5.02 ERA)	(Jr., 0-3, 5.32 ERA)	LetsGoPeay.com
Sun.	1:00pm	RHP Lucas Anderson	TBA	WVRY 105.1 FM
		(Sr., 2-1, 3.86 ERA)		LetsGoPeay.com

 

Statistical Comparison: Governors vs. Redhawks
TEAM	BA	RPG	HR	RBI	SLG	OBP	SB-A	ERA	BB/9	SO/9	BAA	FLD
APSU	.265	5.5	17	107	.385	.375	26-39	4.93	4.93	8.26	.258	.967
SEMO	.293	6.5	25	135	.450	.404	7-11	7.58	7.14	7.92	.297	.954