Redhawks host Tennessee Tech in crucial series

~ Barring an unusual development, the series winner is headed to the OVC tournament.

As this disappointing regular season winds down for Southeast Missouri State, the Redhawks still have an opportunity to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament.

Considering the way things have gone for the Redhawks most of the year, they really couldn't ask for anything more.

"It's pretty amazing, really," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "The door keeps being left open, and we'll take that opportunity."

Southeast (19-30, 9-15) plays its final three regular-season games when Tennessee Tech (17-34, 10-14) visits Capaha Field for a 1 p.m. doubleheader Friday and a 1 p.m. contest Saturday.

It just so happens those squads are the top contenders for the final berth in next week's six-team OVC tournament in Paducah, Ky.

Tennessee Tech is sixth in the 10-team OVC. Southeast is seventh, one game behind the Eagles. A series sweep clinches sixth place for the Redhawks, while winning two of three ties them with Tech, and Southeast would earn the tiebreaker based on head-to-head competition.

Taking two of three from Tech does not automatically guarantee Southeast an OVC tournament berth because teams behind the Redhawks and Eagles could still either pass them or tie them by sweeping series, but those squads would have to pull significant upsets.

Eighth-place Morehead State, which had one OVC contest rained out, is just a half-game behind Southeast at 8-15. The Eagles visit fourth-place Eastern Illinois.

Tennessee-Martin and Murray State, tied for ninth place at 8-16, visit first-place Samford and second-place Jacksonville State, respectively.

Anything less than winning all three games by either Morehead State, Tennessee-Martin or Murray State means Southeast will reach the OVC tournament by capturing two of three from Tech.

As for the Eagles, if they nab two of three from Southeast, they lock down the No. 6 spot no matter what else happens around the league, so this truly is a winner-take-all series.

"Both teams are going to have a lot to play for, needless to say," Hogan said. "I'm very happy that we have a shot. That's really all you can ask."

Considering Southeast's track record this season, simply winning two of three from the Eagles will be a difficult chore.

The Redhawks have lost seven of their eight OVC series, the lone exception being a sweep of visiting Murray State on the first weekend in April.

Since then, the Redhawks have dropped two of three in six consecutive league series.

"It's been an unbelievably crazy year," said Hogan, whose squad has qualified for the OVC tournament in each of his previous 11 seasons at Southeast. "It's amazing to have lost every series but one and still have a shot to get into it, but I'm not going to apologize to anybody if we do get in."

Hogan is happy that the final series of the regular season will at least hold significance for the Redhawks.

"The last thing I wanted to do is play games on the last weekend that really don't mean anything," Hogan said. "This weekend will mean everything."

Hogan knew this could be a challenging season for Southeast with so many young, inexperienced players in the lineup. A slew of tough losses has hampered the Redhawks' record.

"It's not a good record, but we've lost an awful lot of close games," Hogan said. "Turn some of those around and we would be in a lot better position in the conference."

Last year Southeast also went into the final series of the regular season needing a strong finish to make the OVC tournament. The Redhawks swept Tennessee-Martin to climb from a tie for sixth to a tie for fourth.

Hogan is hoping for a similar result in this series, which will include senior day Saturday as the Redhawks honor six seniors who have all been key contributors.

Southeast's seniors are pitchers Anthony Maupin, Jamie McAlister and Derek Herbig, along with catcher Levi Olson, shortstop Jordan Payne and outfielder Chris Gibson.

Another senior, Andy Johnson, left the team last week to begin a job in his home state of Minnesota.

"It would be great to get our seniors to the tournament, and also get that experience for all our younger guys," Hogan said. "It's all coming down to this final series and it should be exciting."