Non-league foe is key in chase for NCAA berth

Today's non-conference game at Saint Louis University might not seem that important on Southeast Missouri State University's baseball schedule.

But it is.

The Indians, after a slow start, have built up enough of an overall record that they could eventually be in the running for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament if they fail to win the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

The more wins the Indians (22-14) pile up, the more clout they'll have with the NCAA selection committee -- which makes today's 2 p.m. contest with the Billikens (15-24) a big one.

"We've preached to the guys that every game is important," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "You never know when a loss might be the one that helps cost you a possible spot in the NCAAs."

The Indians can automatically secure an NCAA regional berth by winning next month's OVC Tournament, but that won't be easy.

"Crazy things happen in the tournament every year," Hogan said. "No matter what you do in the regular season, it's always tough to win the tournament."

The Indians have done it once in seven seasons under Hogan, in 1998, to make their first and only appearance in an NCAA Division I regional.

Southeast has never won the OVC regular-season championship but has been second four times under Hogan, including the past three years in a row.

The Indians figure to have a good chance of finally capturing their first OVC regular-season title. After sweeping Austin Peay over the weekend, Southeast is 10-2 in the league to lead the conference by three games with nine to play.

"We're in good shape, but there's still a long way to go," Hogan said.

Southeast has 13 games left in the regular season. The red-hot Indians have won 15 of their last 18 contests -- including a victory over Oklahoma State, which was nationally ranked at the time -- and Hogan figures if they keep up that kind of play they'll at least give the NCAA selection committee something to think about.

"We've got 13 games left and every one of them is vital," Hogan said. "If we finish strong and play the way we've been playing, I think we're going to have a good argument, especially with the type of schedule we've played.

"This is by far the toughest schedule we've played since I've been here and we did that for a reason. We know that's one of the things the selection committee looks at, especially with teams from smaller conferences like ours."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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