INDIANS TO FACE MURRAY STATE WITH CONFIDENCE

After playing nearly two week's worth of non-league games, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will jump back into Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend.

And the Indians couldn't be entering their three-game series at Murray State with much more momentum or confidence.

Southeast will take a six-game winning streak into today's noon doubleheader. The squads will also play a 1 p.m. single contest Sunday.

The Indians, 17-8 overall, are 2-1 in OVC play. MSU, which is riding a three-game winning streak of its own, is 15-12-1 overall and 2-4 in conference action.

"We're playing very well right now and it's good to see," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We've got a lot of confidence and momentum and that should be a factor (this weekend), but I told the guys to be cautious about using that the wrong way, about feeling overconfident.

"We'll have our hands full. Murray State always plays us tough, they've got a good ballclub and it's a big series for both clubs. It's going to be an interesting series."

Eastern Illinois has shot out of the gates with a 5-0 OVC start to lead the league and the Panthers could build on that this weekend as they visit last-place Tennessee-Martin.

Austin Peay, which doesn't play an OVC series this weekend, is 3-0. Tennessee Tech, also facing an idle OVC weekend, is 4-2, followed by Southeast.

"It's still so early, but you don't want to get yourself in a hole (regarding conference play)," Hogan said. "It's really important we do well this weekend."

Fueling the Indians' current hot streak has been an offense that has picked up serious steam after struggling during the early part of the season. The Indians have raised their team batting average more than 20 points in less than two weeks, putting them at a highly respectable .294.

"It's been great to see," said Hogan of the offensive surge. "We felt like it was probably there all along and that it was only a matter of time. And one of the keys to our run right now is we've had a number of different guys doing it."

While second baseman Clemente Bonilla, who leads the OVC with a .438 batting average, and shortstop Zach Borowiak (.394) have been fairly consistent since the start of the season, several Indians have seriously boosted their averages in recent weeks.

No Indian has been hotter than freshman DH Brad Beatty, who has seven hits in his last nine at-bats to lift his average to .333, which is third-best on the team.

Southeast's attack, however, could be hampered against MSU. Borowiak was diagnosed early Wednesday with strep throat, forcing him to miss that day's game against St. Louis, and he is questionable for the weekend. Beatty will definitely miss this weekend's three games to attend his grandfather's funeral in Texas.

"Missing Beatty will hurt and if Borowiak can't play, that really changes the complexion of our offense," Hogan said.

While the Indians' offense has come on, the Tribe's pitching has been stout all season and the current 3.34 team earned-run average is by far the best in the league.

Todd Pennington (4-0, OVC-best 0.69 ERA), who has been virtually untouchable in recent outings, will start today's opener, with Brad Purcell (2-1, 4.45) to follow. Tommy Thomas (2-5, 3.12) will get the nod Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Thoroughbreds have had fairly solid starting pitching of their own, led by Aaron Russelburg (3-3, 3.12) and Jesse Rhoades (4-1, 3.75).

Offensively, Ronnie Seets (.424) is the OVC's second-leading hitter. As a team, the Thoroughbreds bat .293.