Downey Tops Preseason OVC Team

Brock Downey was named Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year, while Anthony Bayus was selected to the preseason All-OVC team after their efforts during the 2014 season.

Downey was named OVC Co-Pitcher of the Year after he finished the season 9-3 with a 2.76 ERA. He struck out 74 and walked 25 in a school-record 107.2 innings. He became the 10^th pitcher in Racer history to win at least nine games in a season, and the first since Daniel Calhoun (11) and Chris Craycraft (10) in 2009. He went at least six innings in 12 of his 13 starts, including throwing a career-best 9.1 innings against Eastern Illinois. Downey allowed just one earned run and struck out 12 in a complete-game victory over UT Martin. He closed out the 2014 season by striking out eight in a complete-game victory over Eastern Kentucky.

Downey was also called to go play in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Wareham Gatemen. During the summer league, he went started three games while pitching in six. He struck out seven in 17.2 innings pitched.

Bayus led the Racers offense by hitting .327 with 15 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 31 RBIs. He was tied for the team lead with 65 hits, while ranking second with 37 runs scored. During OVC play, he hit .364 with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 19 RBIs in 30 games. He ended his 2014 campaign by hitting safely in eight of the last 10 games, including five multi-hit games.

The Racers begin their season Friday Feb. 13 at Southern Mississippi with the first pitch at 4 p.m. MSU's home opener will be Tuesday Feb. 17 at 2 p.m. against Harris Stowe.

2015 Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Team
(Selected by OVC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors)

Preseason OVC Player of the Year: Dylan Bosheers (SS), Tennessee Tech
Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year: Brock Downey (LHP), Murray State

Pos.	Name, School	Ht.	Wt.	Cl.	Hometown
C	Chris Robinson, Morehead St. #	5-10	180	Sr.	Uxbridge, Ontario
1B	Kane Sweeney, Morehead St.	6-3	210	Sr.	Milldtadt, Ill.
2B	Anthony Bayus, Murray St.*	6-2	180	Sr.	Louisville, Ky.
SS	Dylan Bosheers, Tennessee Tech*	6-0	180	Sr.	Lawrenceburg, Tenn.
3B	Brant Valach, Eastern Illinois #	6-2	205	Sr.	Orland Park, Ill.
OF	Brandon Rawe, Morehead St. *	6-2	190	Sr.	Matthews, N.C.
OF	Caleb Howell, Eastern Illinois #	5-11	165	Sr.	Jacksonville, Ill.
OF	Drew Ferguson, Belmont #	5-11	180	Sr.	Knoxville, Tenn.
DH	Paschal Petrongolo, Jacksonville St. #	6-1	210	Jr.	Blackwood, N.J.
UT	Ridge Smith, Austin Peay *	5-10	190	So.	Cordova, Tenn.
SP	Brock Downey, Murray St.*	6-1	190	Sr.	Murray, Ky.
SP	Ryan Daniels, SIUE *	6-5	205	Sr.	St. Louis, Mo.
SP	Travis Hayes, Southeast Missouri*	6-3	185	Sr.	Crystal City, Mo.
SP	Alex Robles, Austin Peay #	5-11	212	So.	Tuscon, Ariz.
RP	Travis Stout, Jacksonville St.*	5-10	210	Sr.	Smyma, Ga.

*-1^st team All-OVC team in 2014 #-2^nd team All-OVC in 2015

2015 OVC Baseball Predicted Order of Finish

Order of Finish	Points
Southeast Missouri (12 first-place votes)	187
Jacksonville State (7)	171
Tennessee Tech (3)	160
Austin Peay	149
Morehead State	134
SIU Edwardsville	92
Eastern Illinois	91
Belmont	87
Eastern Kentucky	59
Murray State	56
UT Martin	24

(10 points awarded for a first-place vote, 9 for second, etc. – Coaches/SIDs could not vote for their own teams)

Murray State University Athletics

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Anthony Bayus

Brock Downey

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