Indians get ready for MU, SIU

After having already had six non-conference games wiped out so far this season by bad weather, Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan hopes the Indians will be able to play a pair of non-league games this week.

The Indians travel to Columbia, Mo., Tuesday for a 6 p.m. contest with the University of Missouri, then return home for a 3 p.m. game Wednesday against Southern Illinois-Carbondale.

"These mid-week games are important to help get our pitching staff ironed out and get guys some work," Hogan said. "We really need to get these games in."

Southeast, 9-11 overall, opened Ohio Valley Conference play over the weekend by winning two of three home games against Murray State. The Indians prevailed 7-2 Friday, then split a doubleheader Saturday, winning 6-5 and losing 8-4.

"Of course we would have liked to win all three, but I think it's a good way to start the conference season," Hogan said. "Winning two out of three will usually get the job done in this league."

The top of the Indians' starting rotation for weekend conference play is clear as Brad Purcell (3-2) and Brandon Smith (4-1) have been solid most of the season and they were the winning pitchers against Murray State.

But Hogan is still searching for a No. 3 starter. Andy Sheridan got the nod against Murrary State after a stellar performance earlier in the week against St. Louis, but he failed to retire a batter during Saturday's loss.

Missouri is 11-15 overall and 3-9 in the Big 12 Conference. One of the Tigers' pitchers is former Advance High School star Garrett Broshuis, a redshirt freshman who is 2-4 in 11 appearances, four of them starts. He worked eight innings of one-run ball Sunday to beat Texas Tech.

SIU, having a strong season after struggling last year, is 15-8 overall and 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Salukis' top starter is former Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High School standout Jake Alley (4-1, 2.79 earned-run average).

Following the Missouri and SIU games, the Indians will travel to Eastern Kentucky this weekend for a three-game OVC series.

Softball at home today

Southeast's struggling softball team will face league rival Tennessee State at 3 p.m. today at the Southeast Complex.

The Otahkians (4-14, 1-4 OVC) and Tigers (7-14, 1-3) split a doubleheader Friday in Nashville, Tenn., TSU winning 7-6 and Southeast prevailing 15-7. It was the Tigers' first victory ever over the Otahkians as Southeast had won all 24 previous meetings.