Indians look forward to home debut against 'Cats

It has been a rough start for Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team -- and not really unexpected -- but the Indians hope finally playing at home will get them going.

Southeast (1-5) opens the home portion of its schedule Sunday when Brescia University (3-11) visits Capaha Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Indians were originally scheduled to play the Bearcats, an NAIA program from Owensboro, Ky., today, but the doubleheader was pushed back due to inclement weather.

"We're all looking forward to it, no doubt," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "The home opener is always special."

The Indians are coming off a two-game sweep at 12th-ranked Mississippi, which posted 8-1 and 15-6 victories Tuesday and Wednesday. Southeast's pitching staff was hurt primarily by control problems as the Indians issued a staggering 25 walks in the two games.

"We've stuttered on the mound. You just can't give up that many walks no matter who you're playing," said Hogan, whose pitchers have a collective earned-run average of more than eight so far.

Southeast's other three losses have been at Oklahoma, another nationally ranked squad. The Indians were outscored by the Sooners 28-8 in a season-opening series.

The Indians' lone victory has been a 12-9 comeback triumph at Arkansas State in which Southeast rallied from a 9-3 eighth-inning deficit.

Hogan knew the Indians might get off to a slow start, partly because of their brutal schedule and partly because most of last season's top players completed their eligibility.

"It's always tough when you open with Oklahoma and Mississippi, who both have tremendous ballclubs, two of the best in the nation," Hogan said. "But I do still have confidence in this ballclub."

Southeast is at least getting healthier. Two expected key players, first baseman Freddy Lopez and center fielder Frankie Montiel, missed the first several games of the season with injuries but both returned for the Mississippi series and recorded their first hits in an Indian uniform.

Following the home opener, the Indians host St. Louis University Wednesday and then again hit the road to face one of the nation's perennially strong programs as they have a three-game series at Alabama next weekend.

Tennis has home opener

Southeast's women's tennis team opens the home portion of its schedule today when Drury University, from Springfield, Mo., visits for a 1 p.m. match. The Otahkians will also be home Sunday for a 1 p.m. contest against Arkansas State.

The Otahkians fell to 0-7 last weekend as they dropped three matches, including their first two Ohio Valley Conference contests of the season. Southeast fell to Dayton 6-1, then dropped 7-0 decisions to OVC foes Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State.

Otahkian home matches are played at the Southeast Tennis Complex, located on the corner of Sprigg and Bertling, across from the softball fields.