INDIANS SET FOR OVC TOURNAMENT; SEMO BASEBALL TEAM FACES EASTERN ILLINOIS TODAY

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team barely slipped into the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Now coach Mark Hogan is hoping the Indians can slip out with the championship.

The Indians and five other teams will begin the OVC tourney today at Reese Smith Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The squad that emerges Saturday with the title earns a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

"We had a close call (last weekend) but we made it in and now we're looking forward to the tournament," said Hogan. "I really think we can make some noise."

Southeast, seeded fifth, will face fourth-seeded Eastern Illinois at 10 a.m. today in a first-round elimination game. The other first-round elimination contest will pit third-seeded Austin Peay against sixth-seeded Eastern Kentucky at 1:30 p.m.

Then the tourney becomes a true double-elimination affair. Later today, either Southeast or Eastern Illinois will play top-seeded and host Middle Tennessee State at 5, followed by either Austin Peay or Eastern Kentucky facing No. 2 Tennessee Tech at 8:30.

There will be three games Friday, an elimination contest at noon, the winner's bracket final at 3:30 and another elimination game at 7. The championship game is set for 3 p.m. Saturday.

"It's got to be a wide open tournament," Hogan said. "I think what's happened is everybody has had a run this year. Whoever makes the best run in this tournament will win it."

This was one of the more balanced -- and crazy -- OVC regular seasons in recent memory. All nine league teams were still in contention for the six tournament berths entering last weekend's final games.

Southeast, which in the middle of the season was contending for first place, needed to beat Morehead State in Sunday's finale of a three-game series to get into the tournament.

"It was a crazy season, that's why you have to say that any of the six teams could win it," said Hogan.

Tennessee Tech and Middle Tennessee both went 17-7 in league play, the Raiders earning the top seed and the right to host because they won the season series against the Eagles.

Austin Peay finished third at 14-10, followed by Eastern Illinois (13-11), Southeast (11-13) and Eastern Kentucky (10-14).

Hogan actually likes his squad's draw from the No. 5 slot. Southeast (21-31 overall) won all three games against Eastern Illinois (25-27) this season. And he feels the Indians match up well with Middle Tennessee, their next opponent if they win today's opener, even though they lost all three games to the Raiders this year.

"I like our draw," he said. "Eastern Illinois is probably the hottest club in the league right now and they'll be looking to get back at us. But I think we match up well with them.

"And I think we match up better with Middle than we do Tech. Tech has the best starting pitching in the league. I have respect for Middle's pitchers, but I think we can do well against them."

The Indians are hitting .280 as a team, led by OVC batting leader LaMonte Collier at .429. Also above .300 are Mike Miller (.372), Brad Hoehner (.337) and Kyle Yount (.302).

Freshman Jeremy Johnson leads in home runs with six while Collier has the most runs batted in with 36. Johnson has 34 RBIs, followed by Miller and Yount with 33 apiece.

"I've really been encouraged lately that we've swung the bats well again," said Hogan. "I think we're close to being on track again, like we were in the middle of the season."

Pitching -- particularly the starters -- have been a problem in recent games. Hogan plans to start sophomore righthander Talley Haines against Eastern Illinois today.

Haines is just 1-4 with a 7.08 earned-run average, but he has been impressive in his two most recent performances.

"Talley has got the hot hand right now," Hogan said.

Other candidates for starting assignments if the Indians advance are David Michel (5-7, 5.09 ERA), Dave Siboda (4-6, 6.36) and Jason Swearingen (4-4, 5.59). Southeast has a team ERA of 5.81.

Eastern Illinois, which bats a robust .325 as a team, is led offensively by Sean Lyons at .407. Nolan Lofgren is not far behind at .402 while five other regulars are also above .300.

The Panthers have belted 50 homers (compared to 32 for the Indians), led by Clint Benhoff with 10 and Lyons with nine.

Pitching has been a problem all season for the Panthers, whose team ERA is 6.33.

OVC Baseball Tournament

(In Murfreesboro, Tenn.)

Today's Schedule

Game 1: Southeast Missouri vs. Eastern Illinois, 10 a.m.

Game 2: Austin Peay vs. Eastern Kentucky, 1:30 p.m.

Game 3: Middle Tennessee vs. Game 1 winner, 5 p.m.

Game 4: Tennessee Tech vs. Game 2 winner, 8:30 p.m.

Friday's Schedule

Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, noon

Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 3:30 p.m.

Game 7: Game 6 loser vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday's Schedule

Game 8: Championship, 3 p.m.

Game 9: Championship, if-needed, 6:30 p.m.