Coaches poll says sixth for Southeast

~ Samford is favorite to repeat as conference champion.

The Southeast Missouri State baseball tied for sixth place last year to earn a bid in the Ohio Valley Conference, extending Mark Hogan's streak of conference berths for the Redhawks to 12 years.

The conference coaches predict the Redhawks will sit in sixth place again this season.

The OVC's preseason poll was released Tuesday and was topped by defending conference regular-season champion Samford. The tournament champion, Jacksonville State, was slated for second.

Samford, which won an OVC-record 21 games in conference play last year, pulled in six first-place votes and 78 points. Jacksonville State picked up the other four first-place votes and had 75 points.

Samford returns OVC Pitcher of the Year Josh Ehmke (11-2, school-record 132 strikeouts), closer Joseph Edens (11 saves, 3.04 ERA) and second baseman Parker Gargis (.396 average, 55 RBIs)

Jacksonville State has 24 players back, including seven starters and five pitchers.

Eastern Kentucky was picked for third for the second straight year. Austin Peay and Eastern Illinois tied for fourth.

Picked to finish behind Southeast were Tennessee Tech, Murray State, Tennessee-Martin and Morehead State.

Southeast finished 11-16 last year in conference play and was 23-33 overall. They are led by second baseman Omar Padilla (.340 average) and pitchers Josh Parham (4.14 ERA), Phillip Riley and Asif Shah.

Southeast opens the season Feb. 17 with a doubleheader at Jackson State in Mississippi.