McAlister, Summers receive OVC honors

After turning in a career performance, Southeast Missouri State senior right-hander Jamie McAlister has been named the Ohio Valley Conference pitcher of the week for baseball.

McAlister struck out a career-high 11 and did not issue a walk during Friday's 5-1 win over South Dakota State. Working all nine innings, McAlister allowed five hits.

Southeast also received good news Tuesday when tests were negative on outfielder Dustin Pritchett's left wrist that he injured during the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader against South Dakota State, after he had two doubles and the game-winning triple in the opener.

Coach Mark Hogan said the wrist is simply sprained, and Pritchett should be able to return to action within the next week.

"That's great news for Dustin and for us," Hogan said.

Hogan said he also hopes to get freshman Andrew Graham back soon. Graham, a pitcher/outfielder, has missed the past few weeks with a stress fracture.

The Redhawks (6-8) return to action Friday with a 4 p.m. game at Memphis. The squads will also square off at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Summers honored

Southeast sophomore Michelle Summers has been named the OVC player of the week for softball.

Summers batted .542 last week, with two home runs, three doubles and five runs batted in, as the Redhawks went 3-3.

During an 18-7 comeback win over IUPUI, in which Southeast scored 14 seventh-inning runs to erase a 7-4 deficit, Summers went 6-for-6.

The Redhawks (7-7), who have posted three straight wins, begin OVC play this weekend with a three-game series at Austin Peay. There will be a doubleheader Saturday and a single contest Sunday.

Tennis hosts Murray

The Southeast women's tennis team will have its first OVC home match of the season today, facing perennial conference power Murray State at 2:30 p.m. The Redhawks are 1-0 in league play.

Southeast (5-5) is coming off Sunday's 5-2 loss to Northern Iowa. It was the Redhawks' second straight defeat, after five consecutive victories, but coach Jay Pacelli saw bright spots against the Panthers.

"We're in a tough part of our schedule, but overall we had our chances against the No. 2 team in the Missouri Valley Conference last year," Pacelli said. "I thought our top four players and the No. 1 doubles team played well. We still need to see some improvement from the bottom of the lineup."

-- From staff reports