Redhawks or Salukis will end skid

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will try to end a four-game losing streak and recapture some momentum today.

Southern Illinois University is in the same boat.

Both squads could use a victory during their 3 p.m. contest in Carbondale, Ill.

The squads met last Tuesday in Cape Girardeau, with Southeast rallying from a 4-0 first-inning deficit to post an 11-4 triumph.

Since then however, the Redhawks have suffered their longest losing streak of the season. They lost the next night at home to Arkansas State and were swept over the weekend in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Jacksonville State.

Southeast has seen its overall record dip to 14-14. The Redhawks are in sixth place in the 10-team OVC at 5-5.

"It was a tough weekend, but I still like our club," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "I thought we hit well enough to win, we just didn't pitch well enough. We didn't get it done on the mound."

SIU has also slumped over the past week, after coming to Capaha Field last Tuesday riding a five-game winning streak.

The Salukis, like Southeast, have suffered four straight defeats, including a three-game home sweep at the hands of Missouri Valley Conference opponent Bradley.

SIU is 18-15 overall and a seventh-place 3-6 in the nine-team MVC.

"We need to get back on track, back in the win column, and it looks like they do, too," Hogan said. "I know it won't be easy because they have a good ballclub and will want to get back at us for last week."

Today's contest marks the only action for the Redhawks until they resume OVC play this weekend with a home series against first-place Samford.

The Bulldogs, coming off a sweep of defending OVC champion Austin Peay, lead the conference at 9-2, with Jacksonville State one-half game behind at 8-3.

Southeast trails Samford by three games on the loss side and by 3 1/2 games overall.

The Redhawks will try to get their previously solid pitching staff going again after Southeast hurlers allowed 30 runs and 37 hits during the series with Jacksonville State.

Offensively, sophomore catcher Jim Klocke and junior outfielder Tyrell Cummings continue to produce for the Redhawks.

Klocke is the OVC's fourth-leading hitter at .385.

Cummings, a junior college transfer, is tied for the OVC lead in home runs with nine and RBIs with 38.

Cummings, Southeast's No. 2 hitter at .331, is also tied for third in the league with 10 doubles and tied for fourth with 33 runs scored. He is third with a .629 slugging percentage.

Junior first baseman Matt Wagner, batting .310, is tied for third in the conference with seven home runs.