Murray State University Athletics
.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
'Breds picked fourth in OVC pre-season poll
1/19/2006 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
Murray State (28-31, 15-12 OVC last season) finished tied for fourth last season, just a half-game behind Morehead State. The 'Breds return 17 players from last year's squad, including top hitters Seth Hudson (.336) and All-OVC First-Teamer Chaz Ebert (.335, .408 in OVC play) along with Tyler Pittman (.306, .325 OVC), Brett Mullins (.336, .400 OVC) and Austin Swain (.341, .328 OVC).
MSU returns eight pitchers from last year's staff, including two starters. West Harris (4-5, 3.75 earned-run average) had 53 strikeouts to 13 walks in 72 innings in 2005.
Murray State opens its 2006 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 18, with a home double-header against Wright State. The 'Breds play 15 of their first 18 games at home, then play 24 of their last 38 and 20 of their last 29 on the road.
Home OVC series this season include the conference-opener against Samford (March 25-26), Eastern Illinois (April 8-9), Morehead State (April 22-23) and Tennessee-Martin (May 6-7). MSU plays conference road series at Southeast Missouri (April 1-2), Eastern Kentucky (April 14-15), Tennessee Tech (April 29-30), Austin Peay (May 13-14) and Jacksonville State (May 19-20).
The 'Breds also face Vanderbilt (Feb. 28), Mississippi (March 7-8), Memphis (March 14 at home, April 11 away), Kentucky (April 26) and Louisville (May 3) along with regional rivals Southern Illinois (March 1 at home, March 21 away), Arkansas State (Feb. 22 at home, April 5 away) and Evansville (March 28 at home, April 19 away).
Austin Peay (38-24, 16-11 OVC in 2005), which won the O'Reilly's OVC Tournament last season, was picked to finish first in the OC pre-season poll with five first-place votes and 77 total points (teams got nine points for a first-place vote, eight for a second-place vote, etc.)
Jacksonville State (35-25, 19-8 OVC), which won the regular-season title, was picked second with four first-place votes and 76 points. Eastern Kentucky (26-31, 14-12 OVC), was third in the poll with one first-place vote and 57 points.
Murray State was close behind with 54 votes, while Southeast Missouri (24-32, 15-12 OVC) tallied 53 points. Samford (20-36, 13-14 OVC) was picked sixth with 36 points, and Eastern Illinois (17-39, 14-13 OVC) and Morehead State (29-28, 15-11 OVC) tied for seventh with 33 points. Tennessee Tech (13-42, 6-20 OVC) was picked ninth with 19 points, and Tennessee-Martin (12-43, 6-20 OVC) garnered 12 points.
