• OVC Baseball Report –February 20 (PDF)
This Week’s Schedule
Monday, February 20
Lindenwood at Nicholls, 12:00 p.m.
Tuesday, February 21
Southeast Missouri at Middle Tennessee, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Southern Indiana at Lipscomb, 3:00 p.m.
Illinois State
at SIUE, 3:00 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at #20 Alabama, 3:00 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
at Little Rock, 3:00 p.m.
UT Martin at Murray State, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Wednesday, February 22
Little Rock at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 2:00 p.m.
UT Martin at #20 Alabama, 3:00 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Friday, February 24
Minnesota State
at Lindenwood, 1:00 p.m.
Eastern Illinois at #3 Arkansas, 2:00 p.m.
Saint Peter’s
at Morehead State, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Bellarmine
at Southern Indiana, 3:00 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at #22 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
Bradley
at Little Rock, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Southeast Missouri at Abilene Christian, 4:05 p.m. (ESPN+)
Valparaiso
at UT Martin, 5:00 p.m.
SIUE at ULM, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 25
Saint Peter’s
at Morehead State (2), 11:00 a.m.
Eastern Illinois at #3 Arkansas, 12:00 p.m. (SEC Network+)
Minnesota State
at Lindenwood, 1:00 p.m.
Bellarmine
at Southern Indiana, 1:00 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at #22 Georgia Tech, 1:00 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
Southeast Missouri at Abilene Christian (2), 1:05 p.m.
SIUE at ULM, 2:00 p.m.
Bradley
at Little Rock, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Valparaiso
at UT Martin, 3:00 p.m.
Sunday, February 26
Minnesota State
at Lindenwood, 12:00 p.m.
Bellarmine
at Southern Indiana, 12:00 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at #22 Georgia Tech, 12:00 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
Saint Peter’s
at Morehead State, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
Eastern Illinois at #3 Arkansas, 1:00 p.m. (SEC Network+)
SIUE at ULM, 1:00 p.m.
Valparaiso
at UT Martin, 1:00 p.m.
Southeast Missouri at Abilene Christian, 1:05 p.m.
Bradley
at Little Rock, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN+)
OVC Players of the Week
CO-PLAYER
Chase Vinson, OF • 5-11, Sr. • Oakwood, Ill. • Morehead State
Vinson helped Morehead State to a four-game sweep of Norfolk State (its first 4-0 start to a season since 1986) by hitting .308 (4-for-13) with three runs scored, two home runs, nine RBI, a .471 on-base percentage and .769 slugging percentage. He opened the season with a grand slam in the opener, also drawing two walks and scoring a run. After going hitless in the second game of the series, he was 2-for-4 with two RBI singles in the third game and closed out the weekend by smashing a three-run first inning home run in a 3-0 victory.
CO-PLAYER
Caleb Niehaus, INF • 6-0, 180, Fr. • Newburgh, Ind. • Southern Indiana
Niehaus helped lead Southern Indiana to a 3-1 record in its opening weekend series with Western Illinois played at a neutral site in Millington, Tennessee. The freshman hit .500 (4-for-8) with four runs scored, a triple, two home runs, five RBI, a stolen base, .500 on-base percentage and 1.500 slugging percentage. After pinch hitting and pinch running in the first two games of the season, he got the start in game three and hit his first collegiate home run while also scoring two runs in a 6-0 win. He capped the weekend by driving in four runs, going 3-for-4 with a three-run triple and a solo home run.
Others Nominated: Cole Gober, Eastern Illinois; Brett Bowers, Lindenwood; Brett Bowers, Lindenwood; Noah Brewer, Little Rock; Brady Bunten, SIUE; Theo Bryant IV, Tennessee Tech; Andrew Fernandez, UT Martin.
PITCHER
Jake Bockenstedt, RHP • 6-1, 190, Sr. • Cedar Rapids, Iowa • SIUE
Making his first start since the 2021 season, Bockenstedt was near perfect as SIUE topped Incarnate Word 2-0 on Friday. The senior went six innings, allowing only three hits and not walking a batter while striking out seven. He combined with two other pitchers to give the Cougars an Opening Day shutout.
Others Nominated: Ky Hampton, Eastern Illinois; Lukas Frers, Little Rock; Jarrett Miller, Morehead State; Tyler Hutson, Southern Indiana; Peyton Calitri, Tennessee Tech; Seth Petry, UT Martin.