Horstman streaks into big weekend

Eric Horstman would love to continue his two impressive streaks into the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and perhaps beyond.

In order for that to be possible, Horstman and his fellow Southeast Missouri State seniors will have to close out their home careers with a bang.

The Redhawks (21-30, 12-12 Ohio Valley Conference) end the regular season with a three-game series against Tennessee-Martin (12-40, 6-17) that will determine their postseason fate.

Southeast is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the 10-team OVC, and only the top six finishers qualify for next week's conference tournament in Paducah, Ky.

The Redhawks will assure themselves of a tournament berth if they sweep the series that features today's 1 p.m. doubleheader and Saturday's 1 p.m. Senior Day contest, all at Capaha Field.

Southeast also could earn a tournament spot if it takes two of three from the ninth-place Skyhawks, depending on other results around the league. But in that event, the Redhawks would not control their own destiny, instead needing to rely on losses from other squads.

"It's a big weekend for us, and we're excited," Horstman said. "We definitely need to win all three games, that's our attitude going in."

Horstman has been as responsible as anybody for Southeast's late-season league surge that has at least given the Redhawks a decent chance of avoiding missing the OVC tournament for the first time since coach Mark Hogan took over the program in 1995.

Southeast has won five of its last six conference games -- including four straight -- to pull within one-half game of fifth-place Eastern Kentucky and one game of fourth-place Murray State.

Horstman has continued his tear during that time, lifting his team-leading average to .356, which is 45 points higher than anybody else on the squad. He ranks eighth in the OVC with that .356 mark -- in conference games only he is tied for third at .396 -- and is third in the league with 72 hits. He leads the Redhawks with 44 runs scored and 10 stolen bases while being caught just twice.

But perhaps more impressively, the third baseman and leadoff batter has a 21-game hitting streak, and he has reached base safely in 43 consecutive games, which is believed to be the longest active streak in the nation. Earlier this season, Horstman had an 18-game hitting streak.

"It would be nice to keep the streaks going, but three wins this weekend is more important than that," said Horstman, who also led Southeast last year with a .368 average after transferring in from junior college.

Horstman's .363 career average for two seasons currently ranks seventh in school history. He scored 61 runs in 2004 to tie for the second-highest single-season total at Southeast. Also last year, he made his way into the school's single-season record book with 84 hits (third), 19 doubles (tie for fifth) and five triples (tie for fourth).

"Statistically, as far as leadoff guys, Eric is about as good as we've had, and that's some pretty good company," Hogan said.

Horstman is just one of numerous Southeast seniors -- virtually all of them junior college transfers -- who have been contributors since stepping on to the Southeast campus.

Center fielder Frankie Montiel, batting .311 this year, hit .352 in 2004, when his 22 doubles were the second-most for a single season in school history.

Shortstop Ernie Bracamonte, who has missed the last several games with a hamstring injury, is batting .305, including .356 in conference games. Last year, he hit .354 while leading the squad with eight home runs and 51 runs batted in, and his 81 hits tied for fourth in single-season school history.

First baseman/designated hitter Freddy Lopez is batting .296 --.353 in OVC play -- and is tied for the team home run lead with five while ranking first with 39 RBIs. He hit .318 last year and tied with Bracamonte with eight homers.

Second baseman Bo Jenkins and catcher-turned-outfielder Brady Noll have also been key two-year starters. Jenkins is batting .247 overall, but .325 in league games, while Noll is at .281 overall.

Outfielder Bryan Kurt and infielder Keith Wollis have been valuable role players off the bench, while pitchers Ryan Forsyth and Bill Clayton have been key cogs on the mound, although Clayton has not worked much this year after having offseason surgery.

Another senior, All-American closer Brad Smith -- who set Southeast's single-season and career saves record in just one year as he compiled 11 in 2004 -- has missed most of this season due to injury after compiling two early saves, but he is expected to receive a medical redshirt and be able to play one more season next year.

Yet another expected senior, key starter Anthony Maupin, has missed virtually all of the season due to injury and he will return for a final campaign in 2006.

"Your seniors are always very special, and I really respect this group a lot, because they expected a lot out of their last season, it hasn't necessarily turned out that way, but I think they've really handled it well," Hogan said. "They've all been key contributors for us, and some of those guys have been tremendous players."

And many of the seniors -- who all will be honored prior to Saturday's contest -- will likely have to play prominent roles during these final three regular-season games if the Redhawks have any chance of slipping into the OVC tournament.

"If we can just get in the tournament, I think we have a good shot to win it, as good a shot as anybody," Horstman said. "Hopefully, we'll come out and really play well in these three games."