CLARKSVILLE – A formidable nonconference slate awaits Austin Peay State University’s baseball team under first-year head coach Travis Janssen as the team’s 2016 slate was released publicly, Friday.
Just 119 days separate Austin Peay from its regular-season opener, Feb. 19, against Bradley. The Braves, who will play a three-game set at Raymond C. Hand Park, posted a 35-18 record last season and reached the NCAA Tournament.
While the Bradley series kicks off the campaign, the Govs will conclude the 2016 season when Big 12 opponent Oklahoma visits Clarksville for a three-game set, May 19-21. Oklahoma compiled a 34-26 record last season.
Bradley and Oklahoma are two of nine opponents on Austin Peay’s 2016 slate to finish 2015 ranked among the RPI Top 100. The Braves finished ranked No. 19 while Oklahoma was No. 77. Joining them are Missouri State (44-20 record, No. 8), Connecticut (35-24, No. 47), Kentucky (30-25, No. 58), Memphis (37-20, No. 68), Middle Tennessee (32-26, No. 73), Lipscomb (38-18, No. 82) and Evansville (29-24, No. 99).
The Bradley series is the start of a season-opening seven-game Govs homestand. They will host Southern Illinois in a midweek contest before hosting the Governors Challenge, Feb. 26-28. Austin Peay will host NCAA Super Regional participant Missouri State along with Connecticut and Alcorn State.
An eight-game road trip follows with a March 2 contest at Kentucky. The Govs then will travel to Mercer (March 4-6) and Arkansas State (March 8-9) before returning home.
The Govs return home to start the 30-game Ohio Valley Conference slate. This season, Austin Peay will host Eastern Illinois (March 11-13), Murray State (March 24-26), Southeast Missouri (April 8-10), Eastern Kentucky (April 22-24) and UT Martin (May 6-8).
Austin Peay’s road OVC series begins with a March 18-20 series at Jacksonville State that will serve as a homecoming for Janssen. The Govs also will face Tennessee Tech (April 1-3), Belmont (April 15-17), Morehead State (April 29-May 1) and SIUE (May 13-15) in road series.
Interspersed among the conference schedule are four of the Govs traditional home-and-home series. The Govs will face Western Kentucky, Evansville, Middle Tennessee and Lipscomb in those midweek outings. In addition, a home affair against Northern Illinois, a trip to Southern Illinois and a contest at Memphis will be midweek affairs during the conference schedule.
The regular-season slate leads up to the OVC Baseball Championship which will return to The Ballpark at Jackson for the fifth year. The 2016 edition will start May 25 prior to the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
