Redhawks face big challenge at Ole Miss

Armed with its first three-game winning streak of the season, Southeast Missouri State's baseball team now takes a crack at its second nationally ranked opponent.

The Redhawks (6-7) face the University of Mississippi (13-3), ranked 14th and 20th in the two major polls, in a two-game series in Oxford, Miss. Starting times are 6:30 p.m. today and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

"It's a good opportunity for us, to go up against another tremendous team like Ole Miss," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast posted its third straight victory Sunday, knocking off NAIA Freed-Hardeman 8-1 at Capaha Field to complete a seven-game homestand.

Now the challenge for the Redhawks is to try and defeat one of the nation's premier programs on the road. The Rebels have won eight straight.

"We have a chance to get to .500, but it won't be an easy team to do that against," Hogan said. "They're an excellent team. They're loaded."

Southeast is 2-11 all-time against the Rebels, including a pair of lopsided losses last year in Oxford, Miss., 15-6 and 8-1.

"I think it's good for our program to play people like this," Hogan said.

The Rebels, after going 39-21 last year and making the NCAA regionals, are off to a hot start as they boast some eye-popping statistics.

Mississippi has a team batting average of .354, with eight starters hitting better than .300, including three above .400.

On the mound, the Rebels have a stingy 3.19 earned-run average, with no starter having an ERA higher than 4.01.

"They're really good, and those numbers speak for themselves," Hogan said.

Southeast began the season by losing three games at then top-ranked Tulane -- 9-0, 6-3 and 9-3 -- but the Redhawks were highly competitive in the final two contests that were tight until the late innings.

Hogan is hoping that experience helps the Redhawks against the Rebels.

"We've been in these kinds of situations before, not only this year but the last few years," he said. "Hopefully we'll go down there and play well, and be in the games with a chance to win."

Added senior outfielder Bryan Kurt: "We're excited to go down there and play them. We know we can compete against them."

Hogan said junior left-hander Derek Herbig and senior right-hander Ryan Forsyth, who have both been solid in recent outings, will start against the Rebels, with Herbig going tonight and Forsyth getting the nod Wednesday.

"They've both pitched well lately," Hogan said.

After the two-game series in Mississippi, Southeast returns to Cape Girardeau for four more consecutive games at Capaha Field, which will conclude a stretch of 11 home dates in 13 contests.

Central Michigan visits this weekend for a three-game series, with starting times of 3 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Evansville then comes to town for a 6 p.m. contest on March 22, followed by Southeast's Ohio Valley Conference-opening series at Murray State on March 25-26.

Noteworthy

Southeast senior infielder Eric Horstman was selected the OVC player of the week. Horstman batted .600 in victories over South Dakota State, Southern Illinois and Freed-Hardeman, raising his season average to .298. He also scored four runs, batted in two runs and had a stolen base.