Redhawks, Indians step out of conference play

The first of Southeast Missouri State's numerous tough losses this year took place more than two months ago, when host Arkansas State nipped the Redhawks 4-3 in their season opener on Feb. 15.

Southeast and Arkansas State will have a rematch at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Capaha Field, as both squads take a break from what has so far been disappointing conference seasons.

While the 16-26 Redhawks are tied for seventh place in the 10-team Ohio Valley Conference at 7-11, the 19-22 Indians are seventh in the nine-team Sun Belt Conference at 4-10. They have lost six straight games.

"I'm sure they had hoped to be doing a lot better at this point in the season, just like we were," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast is coming off an important OVC win, as the Redhawks broke a five-game losing streak by beating host Eastern Illinois 4-3 Sunday to salvage a victory in the three-game series.

That triumph at least pulled Southeast within striking distance of qualifying for the six-team OVC tournament, something the Redhawks have done during each of Hogan's previous 11 seasons.

The Redhawks trail sixth-place Tennessee Tech by two games, with both squads having nine conference contests remaining. The teams finish the regular season with a three-game series at Capaha Field.

"That win [Sunday] was really big for us," Hogan said.

It was sparked by Josh Parham's five hitless relief innings, as the left-hander from Jackson High School notched his first victory of the season.

"He was tremendous," Hogan said.

That one-run triumph was the Redhawks' fifth of the season, compared to nine one-run losses.

"We've lost so many tough games, it was nice to see one of those go our way," Hogan said.

Arkansas State and Southeast both rank last in their respective leagues in hitting -- although with totally different averages.

While the Indians are a respectable .292; the Redhawks are a disappointing .251.

Brett Kinning leads the Indians with a .379 mark, while Josh Yates is batting .368 with 10 home runs and 46 runs batted in.

Also on the Arkansas State roster is Central High School graduate Josh Ford, a sophomore who has received just four at-bats this season, his first with the Indians. He has scored two runs but does not have a hit.

Levi Olson continues to pace the Redhawks at .349, while freshman Andrew Graham has pushed his average to .319 and freshman Aaron Rave is hitting .304. Andy Johnson has a team-high five homers in just 57 at-bats.

Southeast has an earned-run average more than a full run per game better than Arkansas State, 5.30 to 6.37.

Hogan said Derek Herbig (2-3, 5.02 ERA) will probably start for Southeast tonight, while Joel Boeschen (2-7, 6.67) is the likely starter for the Indians.

Following today's action, the Redhawks will resume OVC play this weekend with a three-game home series against third-place Eastern Kentucky.