Indians travel south to face the Tide

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians will be looking for another upset of Alabama when the teams square off in a three-game weekend series in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

There will be a 6:30 p.m. game today, followed by contests at 4 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Indians are 4-5 and have won three straight. The Crimson Tide are 11-4 and have won nine consecutive home games, including Wednesday's 9-3 romp past 18th-ranked Southern Mississippi.

"It's going to be another big challenge for us, but we're looking forward to it," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast opened its season last year by upsetting host Alabama 8-7, although the Tide went on to win the series by posting 16-1 and 9-4 victories.

In 2002, during the first-ever meeting between the teams, Southeast notched the program's first-ever regional victory by stunning the host Tide 7-4. Alabama came back later in the regional to eliminate the Indians 7-4.

"We have had some success against them and hopefully we can again," Hogan said. "They're a great program and they've got a great place to play. It can be an intimidating place to play, but I think we're good enough where if we play as well as we can, we have a chance to come away with a win or two."

A big attraction

Alabama's Sewell-Thomas Stadium is regarded as one of the best collegiate venues in the country and several thousand fans routinely watch the Tide play.

"We've got a big challenge ahead of us, but we need to go in there and take a couple of games," junior second baseman Bo Jenkins said.

Alabama has a rich baseball tradition, winning five regional titles and making five College World Series appearances, the latest being in 1999. The Tide have an all-time regional record of 40-22.

"Year in and year out, they've got one of the best programs in the country," Hogan said.

The Tide have been led so far this season by a pitching staff that has an impressive 2.57 earned-run average. Freshman left-hander Wade LeBlanc is the top starter, posting a 3-1 record and a 1.19 ERA. In 30 1/3 innings, he has allowed just 16 hits and five walks while striking out 25.

Offensively, Alabama carries a .283 batting average. Four regulars are hitting above .300, led by Allen Rice (.403).

Hogan plans to start senior right-hander Bill Clayton in today's series opener. Clayton, one of the Indians' top returning hurlers, has seen limited action so far because of an ankle injury but he was sharp in his most recent outing on Sunday.

"He threw wonderful, the way we've seen him throw before he hurt his ankle," Hogan said. "Hopefully he can go out and throw well for five or six innings and keep us in the game."

Southeast is coming off Wednesday's dramatic 7-4 win over visiting St. Louis in which the Indians used a five-run eighth inning rally to prevail.

"Hopefully that can get us going," sophomore right fielder Aaron Fangman said. "We need to take what we have going into the weekend."