BRIEFLY: SEMO BASEBALL TRAVELS TO MISSISSIPPI

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team, which received votes in a national Division I poll for the first time ever this week, will put its eight-game winning streak on the line tonight as the Indians start a tough two-game series at Mississippi.

The 8-2 Indians and 8-3 Rebels will square off at 6:30 tonight and 4 p.m. Saturday.

Southeast, which has won eight straight games for its longest winning streak as a Division I program, received six votes in this week's USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN Coaches Top 25 poll.

"I'm honored that we received such respectable recognition from coaches across the country for our early accomplishments," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad owns three wins combined over 1999 NCAA Regional qualifiers Arkansas and Southwest Missouri.

Mississippi, another NCAA Regional team from last year, received 31 votes in this week's national poll.

"Mississippi will provide a stiff test for our team, but we're looking forward to the challenge," Hogan said.