Redhawks attempt to thwart MU's bid for revenge

The University of Missouri didn't have to wait very long to try and gain a measure of revenge against Southeast Missouri State.

After the Redhawks stunned the nationally-ranked Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings in Cape Girardeau last Wednesday, the squads hook up in a rematch at 6 p.m. today in Columbia, Mo.

MU didn't seem much affected by last week's upset loss, bouncing back to sweep a three-game Big 12 Conference series from Texas A&M. The Tigers (26-6, 8-1 Big 12) moved up to No. 13 Monday in both major national polls.

Meanwhile, Southeast failed to build on that dramatic victory, which was capped by Ernie Bracamonte's three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 10th.

The Redhawks proceeded to lose two of three during an Ohio Valley Conference series at Samford, falling to 12-18 overall and 3-6 in league play.

There are still 18 OVC games remaining, but Southeast finds itself in eighth place among 10 teams -- and already a whopping 5 1/2 games out of first.

"It's disappointing. We're all frustrated," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad resumes conference play this weekend at Austin Peay. "After the big win over Missouri, you think it will get you going."

MU was on a roll when it came to Cape Girardeau last week, having won 15 of 16 games, and the Tigers have started up another streak since then by sweeping Texas A&M. Their 8-1 Big 12 record matches their best conference start since 1981.

The Tigers have a stellar 2.30 earned-run average and a .304 batting average. They have outscored the opposition 333-98.

But Southeast -- in perhaps its best performance of the season -- was able to outplay MU last week. The Redhawks had 16 hits and committed no errors, while the Tigers had 10 hits and made four errors.

"We really played a tremendous ballgame," Hogan said.

Southeast, however, floundered at Samford, scoring just 10 runs and getting only 22 hits in three games, while committing six errors.

"It's puzzling to me," Hogan said. "I still believe we have a lot of talent. We've had some good games, and some not-so-good games. We need to string some wins together."

Hogan knows sweeping the season series from Missouri -- something Southeast last accomplished in 2002 -- will be difficult.

"They're awesome. They're really having a superb year. And I'm sure they'll want to give one back to us," Hogan said. "We'll have to play as well as we did against them last week to hang in there."

Hogan said freshman left-hander Casey Johnson (1-2, 4.29 ERA) will likely get the start today. Johnson also started against the Tigers last week, allowing just three hits but four runs in 3 2/3 innings.

"He pitched pretty well against them, and they're not as good statistically against left-handers," Hogan said. "We'll see what happens."