Redhawks will try to ignite cold bats today

Southeast brings a .247 team batting average into this weekend's series with Central Michigan.

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will try to get its struggling offense going this weekend against a pitching staff with some impressive statistics.

Central Michigan (9-5), which has won six straight games and boasts a collective earned-run average of 2.82, visits Capaha Field for a three-game series. Today's 3 p.m. contest will be followed by 1 p.m. starts Saturday and Sunday.

The Redhawks (6-9) are coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of 14th-ranked Mississippi, which prevailed 6-5 Tuesday and 3-0 Wednesday.

Southeast's pitching and defense were mostly solid -- Mississippi's three runs Wednesday marked its lowest-scoring game of the year and their six hits were the lowest in 14 games -- but the Redhawks could not generate much offense. That problem has plagued the Redhawks much of the season, as indicated by a .247 team batting average.

"A bright spot was our pitching and defense, but we just didn't do much offensively," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "Offense has been a trouble spot for us and we're going to have to work on it.

"I still think we've got several good hitters. I'm surprised we're not doing more offensively, but hopefully we can get it going this weekend."

Hogan knows that won't be easy against a hot Central Michigan squad that will be looking to pay Southeast back after the Redhawks swept two games against the Chippewas last year, winning 7-2 and 7-5 at Capaha Field.

"I thought they were really good last year. We were fortunate to sweep them," Hogan said. "I'm sure revenge will be on their minds."

As is often the case for teams from cold-weather states, the Chippewas have not yet played a home game. But that hasn't prevented them from putting together a winning record, despite losing their first four games of the season.

Central Michigan recently completed a 6-1 spring break trip to Florida, where the Chippewas faced seven different opponents. Among their victims was Ohio Valley Conference member Eastern Kentucky, which was routed 19-1.

The Chippewas outscored their last four opponents 55-8, and they have raised their batting average to .305 after having a .259 mark after seven games. Central Michigan is averaging 7.4 runs per game.

Central Michigan's leading hitter is Jim Geldhof (.339), who leads six regulars batting better than .300. Brian Mitzel has the top power numbers, with three home runs and 17 runs batted in to go with a .327 average.

On the mound, the Chippewas' top three starters all have an ERA of 2.57 or below, and all are allowing an average of less than one hit per inning. The trio consists of right-handers Jason Cairns (2-1, 2.22) and Ty Dunham (1-1, 2.57), along with left-hander Jayson Ruhlman (3-1, 2.36), who has struck out 36 batters in 26 2/3 innings.

Central Michigan coach Steve Jaksa is looking for a better performance against Southeast this weekend than what the Chippewas turned in last year in Cape Girardeau -- and he's not about to discount the Redhawks' struggling offense.

"We didn't fare well there last year. We look at it as another opportunity to build on where we are and see how we match up against another conference," Jaksa said. "They are a good hitting team that will challenge our pitching staff."

Southeast has only two regulars hitting better than .300. Senior center fielder Frankie Montiel leads the way (.382), followed by senior third baseman Eric Horstman (.309).

"Montiel is our only guy who has been consistent," Hogan said.