Redhawks face SLU, Missouri in next two games

Southeast Missouri State will face teams having completely different kinds of seasons over the next two days as the reeling Redhawks take a mid-week break from Ohio Valley Conference play.

Today at 3 p.m., the Redhawks (9-16) visit St. Louis University (4-20). Then Wednesday at 6 p.m., the University of Missouri (23-5), ranked 23rd in the latest Baseball America Top 25 poll, comes to Capaha Field for Bluff City Beer Night as free food and beverages will be available.

"We generally have very interesting games with both teams," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Coming off a 2-1 OVC series loss to visiting Jacksonville State over the weekend, the Redhawks will try to build momentum for this weekend's three-game conference set at Samford.

Southeast, 2-4 in league play, has dropped nine of its last 12 games, with several of the defeats coming when the Redhawks blew late leads.

"It's a tough time for us right now, but I've still got a lot of confidence that we're going to turn this thing around," Hogan said. "We've got 21 OVC games left, so it's still early in the conference season."

SLU, 1-8 in Conference USA, lost to Southeast 8-3 on March 2 in Cape Girardeau, and the Redhawks lead the all-time series 24-17. The Billikens have struggled on the mound with an 8.02 earned-run average.

"Their record isn't good, but they usually play us very tough. It won't be an easy game," Hogan said.

While today's contest might not be easy, Wednesday's matchup with surging Missouri figures to be especially difficult.

Missouri had a 15-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, when the Tigers lost 5-3 to Texas Tech. It was the first Big 12 Conference loss for Missouri, which is off to a 5-1 start in league play.

Although the Tigers' nonconference schedule was relatively soft -- one of the defeats was a 6-5 loss at Murray State on Feb. 28 in which they committed five errors -- Missouri features some eye-popping team statistics, with a 2.16 ERA and a .310 batting average. The Tigers have outscored the opposition 311 to 83.

Jacob Priday, a freshman from Sikeston High School, is one of seven MU regulars batting at least .300. Priday, third on the squad at .357, is also tied for first in home runs with four and is second in runs batted in with 36.

Missouri's leading hitter is Hunter Mense (.435), while James Boone (.398) has four homers and 53 RBIs.

On the mound, every one of the Tigers' primary starters has an ERA of well under 3.00, led by Max Scherzer (6-1, 1.02). Scherzer has struck out 68 and allowed just 20 hits in 44 1/3 innings. He is not likely to pitch Wednesday since Missouri has another Big 12 series this weekend.

"They've got a tremendous season going so far," Hogan said.

The Tigers lead the all-time series 19-6 and they have won four straight against the Redhawks, but three of the games were decided by one run.

Last year, Missouri beat Southeast 6-3 in Cape Girardeau and 12-11 in 13 innings in Columbia. In 2003, the Tigers posted 11-10 and 9-8 victories. The Redhawks swept the Tigers in 2002, prevailing 5-2 and 8-5.

"We've had some really good games with them the last few years," said Hogan, whose squad plays at Missouri next Wednesday to complete the season series. "It doesn't get any easier for us this week. It's definitely going to tax our pitching staff."