Offense faces test in three-game series

Southeast Missouri State University's resurgent offense could get a rugged test this weekend when the Indians host Southwest Missouri State in a three-game series.

There will be single games today, Saturday and Sunday, all beginning at 1 p.m. at Capaha Field.

"Our offense is starting to come along, but we'll face some outstanding pitching in this series," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "Southwest has some tremendous arms and it's going to be a real challenge for our offense."

The Indians are 6-7 after sweeping Culver-Stockton last weekend. Southeast scored 30 runs and had 34 hits in the three-game series. What once was a team batting average hovering near the .200 mark has jumped to a more respectable .281.

Redshirt freshman Eric Hoffman tops the Indians offensively with a .385 average. Four others are at .300 or better: Tristen McDonald (.364), Zach Borowiak (.346), David Lawson (.312) and Vern Hatton (.300).

SMS (8-3) is a preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears have a team earned-run average of 4.01, led by starter Brad Ziegler (2-1, 1.86 ERA) and Freshman All-American Bob Zimmerman (1-1, 3 saves, 2.40).

The Bears' batting average is .320, led by South Pemiscot High School product Greg Mathis (.436).

Southeast is still trying to get its pitching staff in order. Seniors Brad Purcell (2-2, 3.73) and Brandon Smith (3-0, 2.81) have solidified themselves as the top two starters but Hogan is still looking for a No. 3 prior to the start of the Ohio Valley Conference schedule next weekend.

Newcomers Ryan Cheo and Donnie Fuller, who were projected as possible front-line starters, have struggled so far but Hogan said he has not given up on them. Another possibility to man the No. 3 spot in the rotation is newcomer Ryan Govek, the squad's starting right fielder who was supposed to start last weekend but couldn't go because of a jammed throwing shoulder.

"One of the problems is that we've played games in spurts," Hogan said. "We haven't been able to use our pitchers consistently other than Purcell and Smith."

Around the OVC

While the Indians won't open their OVC schedule until next weekend, three conference series will be played this weekend: Eastern Illinois at Eastern Kentucky, Morehead State at Murray State and Tennessee Tech at Tennessee-Martin.