Indians try to recover from loss with home game today

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team will try to bounce back from a tough loss when it steps out of league play today to face an NAIA opponent.

Freed-Hardeman, located in Henderson, Tenn., will provide the opposition in a 3 p.m. first pitch at Capaha Field.

The Indians, 12-15 overall, fell to 3-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play after losing two of three games at preseason favorite Jacksonville (Ala.) State over the weekend, including Sunday's 15-14, 10-inning loss in which Southeast led 14-5 in the eighth inning.

"It was a tough loss, but we've just got to put that behind us, try and win this game and get ready for another conference series," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast resumes OVC competition this weekend with a three-game home series against Samford. Because of Easter Sunday, the series will be played Friday and Saturday instead of the normal Saturday-Sunday routine. The squads will play a 1 p.m. Friday doubleheader and a 1 p.m. Saturday single contest.

Freed-Hardeman, which competes in the TranSouth Conference, was 20-18 overall but just 3-9 in league play prior to a Tuesday night game against Lambuth (Tenn.).

The Lions have a solid .311 batting average, led by freshman Justin Forrest (.389), junior Dave Rivera (.387) and junior Andy Haston (.363). Rivera has eight home runs and 42 runs batted in.

Freed-Hardeman has a 5.38 earned run average.

"There are some very good NAIA teams with a lot of Division I-type athletes, and we can't take them lightly," Hogan said. "I'm sure they're looking at this as a big game and they'll be a tough opponent for us."

Otahkians play at home

Southeast's softball team will try to extend its four-game winning streak today when Austin Peay visits for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.

The Otahkians are 9-21 overall and 4-1 in the OVC after sweeping a three-game home series from Tennessee State over the weekend. Austin Peay is 12-23 and 2-6.

Southeast will today be playing its sixth and seventh consecutive home games to start its OVC schedule, with all the action coming against teams picked to finish toward the bottom of the standings. Coach Lana Richmond emphasized that her squad must get off to quick start in order to have a shot at contending for the league title.

"It's very important for us to get off to a good start with these first seven conference games at home," Richmond said. "This is a really big doubleheader before we play our first conference road games."

The Otahkians visit defending OVC champion and preseason favorite Tennessee Tech for a three-game series this weekend.

Junior college transfer Victoria Torrez has used a recent hot streak to lift her batting average to .321, which leads the Otahkians.

In the pitching department, the Otahkians allowed just one run in the three games against Tennessee State. Kelly Birk (4-7, 2.03) notched two of the victories, including a shutout, while Jessica Hunter (2-6, 2.44) also pitched a shutout.