GAMES 16, 17 & 18
ASU INDIANS vs. MIDDLE TENNESSEE BLUE RAIDERS
March 14-16, 2008
Tomlinson Stadium & Kell Field (1,200) - Jonesboro, Arkansas
Radio: KJCF 103.9 Earl FM & ASUIndians.com
Live Stats on ASUIndians.com (Broadcast & Media Link)
LEADING OFF: The Indians of Arkansas State University wrap up a six-game home stand March 14-16 when they host the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State University in the first Sun Belt Conference home series of the season. Friday's game is scheduled to get underway at 7 p.m.; Saturday's first pitch is set for 6 p.m., while Sunday's finale is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Every ASU Indian baseball game can be heard live on 103.9 Earl FM in Northeast Arkansas. The live audio broadcast can also be accessed through the StateZone portion of the Arkansas State athletics website, ASUIndians.com. Live Stats may also be accessed by logging on to ASUIndians.com and clicking the link on the left sidebar.
THE TEAMS: Winners of six of their last seven games, the Indians are 10-5 overall and 3-0 in Sun Belt play following last weekend's sweep of preseason favorite Louisiana-Lafayette. Most recently, the Tribe defeated Harris-Stowe State University in both games of a doubleheader March 12 at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field. Arkansas State edged Harris-Stowe 3-2 in game one before rolling to a 10-4 victory in game two.
Middle Tennessee comes to Jonesboro at 8-3-1 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference action. Winter weather forced the cancellation of the Friday and Saturday games between MTSU and New Orleans last weekend, forcing the teams to open Sun Belt play with a Sunday doubleheader. New Orleans won the first game 11-5 before the Blue Raiders bounced back to take a 16-11 victory in game two. In this week's midweek action, Middle Tennessee was defeated 5-3 at in-state rival Tennessee.
THE SERIES: Middle Tennessee visits Jonesboro for the second consecutive season, and leads the overall series 16-6. When the Indians and Blue Raiders met last year, all three games at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell field went into extra innings, with Middle Tennessee winning the series 2-1. Arkansas State won the opener, 7-6 in 10 innings but Middle Tennessee edged the Tribe 4-3 to even the series in the Saturday matchup. The Blue Raiders won Sunday's 14-inning finale, 7-5.
ON THE MOUND FOR THE TRIBE: Junior Chase Ware, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, will take the mound in Friday's series opener. Ware stands at 2-0 on the season with an ERA of 1.71. He has given up 14 hits and four earned runs through 21 innings of work, with 19 strikeouts. Junior Jacob Maggard moves into the Saturday starting slot for this weekend's series with the Blue Raiders. Maggard is 2-0 on the season with an ERA of 0.98, having surrendered just two earned runs through 18.1 innings of work. He has given up 12 hits while striking out 12 opposing batters. Senior Joel Boeschen will get the call for the Indians in Sunday's finale. Boeschen is 2-1 on the season with an ERA of 4.86. Boeschen has given up nine earned runs on 18 hits through 16.2 innings of work, with 13 strikeouts to his credit.
WARE WINS SBC PITCHER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Arkansas State junior Chase Ware was named the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week March 10 for his performance in game one of the Indians' three-game sweep of preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite Louisiana-Lafayette March 8 & 9. The series sweep was the Indians' first-ever against the Ragin' Cajuns.
Ware threw a complete-game shutout against the Ragin' Cajuns, giving up just three hits as he led the Tribe to a 3-0 victory in game one. Striking out six batters while walking two, Ware improved to 2-0 in three appearances on the season. Ware held the Cajuns to a .100 batting average while surrendering just two singles and a double in the game. He now has 19 strikeouts in three appearances this season (21.0 innings) and has compiled a 1.71 ERA.
“I am extremely pleased that both Chase and Todd Baumgartner won the player and pitcher of the week awards,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “Chase was at his best against the Ragin' Cajuns in a dominating performance that got our weekend off to a great start.”
BAUMGARTNER WINS SBC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD: Arkansas State freshman Todd Baumgartner was named as the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week March 10 for his performance in the Indians' four games in the week ending March 9. Baumgartner led Arkansas State at the plate during the week, batting .450 as the Tribe handed previously undefeated and No. 2-ranked Ole Miss a 7-5 defeat in Oxford, Miss., to open the week's play, then traveled to Lafayette, La., where they swept three games from the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns. The series sweep was the Indians' first-ever against the Cajuns.
Against Ole Miss, Baumgartner doubled, drove in a run and scored a run, and in game two of the ULL series, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. In game three against the Cajuns, Baumgartner went 3-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. For the week, Baumgartner went 9-for-20 with a home run, a double, four RBI and five runs scored. In addition, he posted a 1.000 fielding percentage, starting all four games in left field and was 1-for-1 on stolen base attempts.
“I am extremely pleased that both Todd and Chase Ware won the player and pitcher of the week awards,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “Todd is a very talented player who really had a break-out week in helping us to our 4-0 record on the road this past week.”
FAST START IN SBC PLAY: When Arkansas State defeated Louisiana-Lafayette three games to none on the opening weekend of conference play, the Indians opened league play with a three-game sweep for the first time since 2003 - and their 8-4 overall record is their best through 12 games since a 10-2 start in 2005.
FIRST SWEEP OF CAJUNS: ASU's three-game sweep of ULL March 8 & 9 was the first time that the Indians have earned a series sweep against the Cajuns. The last ASU three-game series win against ULL came during the 2001 season when ASU dropped the first game of the series before bouncing back to win the final two. The Tribe also won the series with ULL during the 2004 season, but ASU won the series 2-0 when game three was rained out.
RARE SWEEP AT LAFAYETTE: With their three-game sweep of ULL last weekend ASU became the first Sun Belt Conference team to sweep Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game series on the Ragin' Cajuns home field since the 2000 season.
ASU BASEBALL RECEIVING NATIONAL ATTENTION: The Arkansas State baseball team continues to receive national recognition this week, garnering attention from SEBaseball.com (Southeastern Baseball) and BaseballAmerica.com after posting a victory over No. 2 Ole Miss and a three-game sweep of Sun Belt Conference preseason favorite Louisiana-Lafayette over the last five days.
Baseball America, which can be found both online and in print, discussed ASU's success this season in Aaron Fitt's Three Strikes section of the web site. Fitt is the lead college writer for Baseball America.
Fitt specifically addresses ASU's games against Ole Miss and Louisiana-Lafayette and some of the keys to the Indians' victories last week, but also discusses their most recent recruiting class and how “all the pieces have come together out of the gate” for ASU. Three Strikes can be read in its entirety on BaseballAmerica.com.
Arkansas State is also featured as SEBaseball.com's (Southeastern Baseball) top team in its Weekend Stock Report. Each week SEBaseball.com reviews the week and provides analysis on which teams in the south raised their stock and which team's stock dropped. The Indians were at the top of the rising stock list.
The web site said in its review that ASU head coach “Keith Kessinger's club had a week to remember,” noting that ASU went to Ole Miss and handed the Rebels their first loss of the season and then went to Louisiana-Lafayette and swept the defending Sun Belt Conference champions.
ASU's win over Ole Miss was its seventh victory over a top-25 ranked team under Kessinger.
The Indians opened Sun Belt Conference play with a three-game sweep for the first time since 2003 and their 8-4 overall record is their best through 12 games since a 10-2 start in 2005. ASU became the first Sun Belt Conference team to sweep Louisiana-Lafayette in a three-game series on the Ragin' Cajuns home field since the 2000 season.
TRIBE RECEIVING VOTES: Following the success enjoyed by Indian Baseball during the week of March 3-9, Arkansas State received votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Poll. Although Arkansas State was not ranked in the poll's top 30 teams, the Indians are listed among other teams from around the nation receiving votes. Additionally, College Baseball Insider (collegebaseballinsider.com) named Arkansas State as its national “Team of the Week” for its success against Ole Miss and Louisiana-Lafayette.
KESSINGER VS. RANKED TEAMS: Following the March 5 win over #2 Ole Miss, the Indians have now knocked off seven ranked teams in five-plus seasons under Head Coach Keith Kessinger. In 2003, Kessinger's first season at ASU, the Indians defeated #25 South Alabama twice. In 2004, the Indians defeated #10 Ole Miss 10-7, and later in the season after the Rebels had risen to #6 in the polls, ASU handed Ole Miss a second loss, posting a 7-6 win over Kessinger's alma-mater. In 2005, the Tribe defeated ULL 6-2 and Ole Miss fell victim to ASU again in 2006 when the Indians won 14-9. With this year's win over Ole Miss, the Indians have now defeated the highest ranked team they have played with Keith Kessinger as head coach.
MAGGARD BOUNCES BACK: Less than a year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, ASU right-hander Jacob Maggard has bounced back strong in the early going of the 2008 season. Maggard has given up just two earned runs in 18.1 innings pitched. The junior from Monticello, Ark. has notched 12 strikeouts against 12 hits. He has given up just one multi-base hit this season, that being a Michigan State triple in the second inning, but the hit did not result in an earned run. His ERA of 0.98 is currently the best in the Sun Belt Conference.
BREAKOUT GAME FOR HUDGINS: After batting just .188 in the first eight games this season, senior Ryan Hudgins, a 2007 second team All-Sun Belt selection, came up big for the Tribe in its 7-5 win over #2 Ole Miss March 5. Hudgins went 3-for-5 at the plate against the Rebels, with two RBI's, a run scored and two stolen bases.
LAMBERT EARNS FIRST SAVE: After setting the record for appearances and relief appearances in a single season a year ago, junior right-hander Nick Lambert earned his first career save against Ole Miss March 5. Lambert pitched the final inning against the Rebels, did not allow a baserunner, and struck out one batter. Lambert made 32 relief appearances for the Indians in 2007, and has a team-high seven appearances in 2008. He recorded his second career save March 12 against Harris-Stowe State.
SAVES ADDING UP: After recording just six saves as a team during the 2007 season, the Tribe already has five to its credit in 2008. Junior Chris Bullington leads the way with three saves in six appearances. The ASU single-season saves record is seven, set by Randy Walker in 1981.
GOING YARD: A pair of newcomers lead the Indians in home runs on the season. True freshman Drew Benes leads the way with three home runs, while junior transfer Derrick Coleman has launched two out of the park this season. Both players hit home runs against Seton Hall - ASU's second game of the season - while Coleman hit his second against Navy and Benes hit his second against Williams Baptist and his third against ULL.
MORE RENOVATIONS AT TOMLINSON STADIUM: As part of an ongoing effort to improve the game-day experience for Indian baseball fans, 206 field-level seats have been added at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field. Included in the expansion is the addition of 26 handicap-accessible seats, with ramps for wheelchair access.
The addition of the field-level seats at Tomlinson Stadium will bring fans over 20 feet closer to home plate than in the past. Front-row seating at the venue is now just 37 feet behind home plate. The chair-back seats are 21 inches wide with 41 inches between rows, providing ample legroom for fans.
In addition to the new seating area, party boxes have been added to the stadium to accommodate groups or corporate events, and plans are in place for future expansion that will include private suites.
Fans throughout the stadium also have an improved view of the game with the addition of a new Dyneema backstop net. Dyneema backstop netting is used in most Major League parks throughout the nation and gives the most unobstructed view while providing maximum protection.
The renovation marks the second major seating area improvement at Tomlinson Stadium in as many years. Last year, the Barton's Baseball Deck was added. The deck, located down the right field line, features picnic tables and barbeque grills for use by fans before and during ASU's home games.
Other recent improvements at the stadium include the addition of brick columns under the grandstand and the replacement of the infield turf following last season.
WOLVES ON THE WAY: March 13, at 11 a.m. on the east side of the Student Union, a roll-out ceremony for Arkansas State University's newly adopted mascot, the Red Wolves, revealed the new face of ASU athletics.
The decision to bid farewell to ASU's Indians and Indian Family was not an easy one, but it was a collaborative decision at every level. The decision-making process was begun about a year ago in response to NCAA sanctions.
At the urging of administrators, notably ASU Chancellor Dr. Robert L. Potts, a Mascot Selection Steering Committee was appointed and charged with gathering ideas for a mascot change from an extremely broad-based constituency that included current students, alumni, representatives from student athletics, athletic administration representation, and members of the community. Jim Pickens, emeritus trustee, was appointed committee chair to oversee the process and keep it representative of all constituencies.
Pickens remarked, “It was a pleasure playing a small role in the future of our university, and all concerned played a significant part in helping our institution move forward. On behalf of the Mascot Selection Committee, we wish to thank the administration, Board of Trustees, and various constituencies for the trust, confidence, and support we received as we went about this historic process of selecting a new mascot and mark for our university. I commend the Mascot Selection Committee for their dedication, professionalism, and hard work as we attempted to select a new mascot that is in keeping with the highest standards of our great university. Hopefully, the new mascot and imagery will serve to broaden and unify our base as together we strive for continued excellence in all aspects of our students' experience at Arkansas State University. I'm thankful for the opportunity to participate in what I hope is a great new beginning for A-State."
As Chancellor Potts noted at the historic Friday, March 7 ASU Board of Trustees meeting, “on Jan. 30, the Mascot Selection Steering Committee concluded its work by recommending that ASU adopt Wolves or a variation thereof, such as Red Wolves, as the new mascot and nickname for our athletic team.” After ascertaining that the nickname “Red Wolves” was unique among four-year universities, Potts brought it before the trustees, who ratified his selection. Potts remarked, “The Red Wolf is a noble species of wolf that once inhabited Arkansas and still exists in small numbers in other states. They are vicious and very aggressive, and they run in packs. I believe that Red Wolves is the best choice...”
ASU Board of Trustees chair Mike Gibson addressed the Mascot Selection Steering Committee's work at the historic board meeting marking the ratification of the adoption of Red Wolves as the new mascot. Gibson noted of the committee's recommendation to the chancellor, “It was done with class; it was done well, it was a tough job done well. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Jim Pickens, who agreed to serve as chairman of this committee and did a wonderful job, Dr. Robert L. Potts, chancellor of the Jonesboro campus who worked so hard to bring us to this point and to those committee members who were there and offered their input...they all loved ASU...everybody wanted the best, and I feel like...you have come up with the best selection that anybody could find.” Shortly after these comments, and as the meeting broke up, Gibson led the assembled company of ASU administrators and their legal counsel, board members, and members of the media, in a rousing wolf howl, in a satisfactory conclusion of the laborious process.
Gibson and the assembled company weren't the only ones howling with joy. Kim Wheeler, executive director of the Red Wolf Coalition, a nonprofit conservation group based in eastern North Carolina, wrote the following message to Chancellor Potts.
Wheeler wrote, “The Red Wolf Coalition, Inc., and the many supporters of red wolf conservation are thrilled and send their “howling” congratulations to ASU on your choice of the red wolf as your mascot. I have passed along your mascot announcement to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery Program and to the captive management facilities across the United States with great enthusiasm. We consider our red wolf supporters and captive management facilities to be one big family, and we welcome the students, staff, and alumni of Arkansas State University to the family.”
Wheeler “can't wait” to see the imagery, either, but she won't have to wait much longer. The team from ASU's Publications and creative Services department is ready to roll out the imagery that they created in-house for the new visage of ASU.
According to Ron Looney, director, Department of Publications and Creative Services, all four of the department's staff artists collaborated in the creation of the Red Wolves imagery. Initial sketches of the wolf mascot were created by art director Mark Reeves and designer Mary Williams. Graphic designer Heath Kelly developed a unique lettering style, and staff artist Michael Johnson assisted with conceptual suggestions and digital manipulation of the art forms. The staff then combined their efforts to create the versions necessary for production of various types of university media. The Publications and Creative Services team look upon the project as entirely collaborative, and as a great experience for them all.
ASU will promote that ASU-generated Red Wolves imagery, according to Gleen Hart, assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions, in many ways. Hart says, “We will try to be as visible as possible with the new imagery being displayed via billboards, the student body, print material, commercials, newspaper ads, and merchandising. The new imagery will be a vital part of the new student group. We will continue to provide prizes, promotions, and incentives to increase student involvement in athletic-related activities.”
Doug Doggett, associate athletic director for external operations and Indian Club director, says that the name change, even for his own organization, “obviously represents a significant impact on the athletic program and the university. We will continue to give thorough consideration to the switch from Indian names and imagery to Red Wolves throughout the process.”
ASU's athletic teams will begin competing as Red Wolves next fall at the beginning of the academic year.
