INDIANS TO CHRISTEN OVC SEASON TODAY WITH DOUBLEHEADER

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team has a chance to get off to a good start in Ohio Valley Conference play at home against a team picked to finish toward the bottom of the league standings.

But Southeast coach Mark Hogan says it would be a big mistake for the Indians to take Morehead State lightly in this weekend's three-game series at Capaha Field.

The squads will have a 2 p.m. doubleheader today and a 2 p.m. single contest Sunday.

"You can't take anybody lightly," said Hogan. "Records or where teams are picked to finish really don't mean anything. It's like a second season when you start the conference schedule."

Southeast, 9-6 overall so far, has finished second in the OVC regular season the past three years and the Indians were picked for that spot in the 2001 preseason poll.

Morehead State, eighth in the nine-team OVC last year, has been picked to finish seventh this time around in what is now an eight-team league.

"They've traditionally had good hitting teams who always play hard," Hogan said. "We're going to have a lot of respect for them when they come in here because this is a big early series for both teams."

Hogan figures starting OVC play strong this weekend will be extra important because only three of Southeast's seven conference series will be at home. The Indians were due to play a fourth home series but Middle Tennessee left the OVC for the Sun Belt Conference after last season.

"With only three (series) at home and four on the road, it's really important we do well this weekend," said Hogan.

Overall, Hogan likes the way the Indians have performed so far this season. While the 9-6 record isn't sparkling, it has been fashioned against a rugged schedule featuring two nationally ranked teams (Oklahoma State and South Alabama) and several other strong squads.

"I think being 9-6 right now is acceptable because of the type of schedule we've played," said Hogan. "I'm pleased with where we're at right now, but we still have to get a lot better in certain areas."

Namely offensively as the Indians are batting barely .260 as a team. But their pitching and defense have been extremely strong so far.

Morehead State is 8-10. The Eagles have been solid offensively, with a .303 batting average, but shaky in the pitching department with an 8.41 earned-run average.