Redhawks resume OVC play at MSU

~ Murray State is 1-4 in conference play after playing two of the top teams.

The Murray State baseball team has one of the Ohio Valley Conference's best nonleague records, but as of yet has not been able to put much together in OVC play.

Southeast Missouri State hopes that doesn't change over the next two days.

The Redhawks and Thoroughbreds hook up in a three-game OVC series in Murray, Ky. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader today and a 1 p.m. contest Saturday.

OVC series normally are played Saturday and Sunday, but the schedules have been moved up a day because of Easter.

"I think Murray State has an excellent club overall," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "I look for a really challenging series."

Southeast is 18-11 overall, while MSU is 18-12 -- but that's where the similarities end between the squads.

The Redhawks are 8-1 in OVC play, good for second place in the nine-team league. They trail 7-0 Eastern Illinois by percentage points.

MSU, which has played only two OVC series compared to three for Southeast, is a seventh-place 1-4.

Hogan said the Thoroughbreds easily could be 3-2 in the conference. They lost 2-1 to Eastern Illinois and blew a three-run, ninth-inning lead in a 9-8 loss to defending OVC regular-season champions Jacksonville State.

"Their [conference] record is really deceiving. It's not even close to the type of club they are," Hogan said. "You start off facing Jacksonville and Eastern Illinois, that's about as tough as it gets.

"I think they're a really dangerous team. It will take our best effort."

The Thoroughbreds feature one of the OVC's top hitters and one of the league's premier pitchers.

Junior Wes Cunningham, first-team all-OVC last year, is the conference's No. 5 hitter with a .452 average. He is tied for the league lead with five triples and has six home runs and 34 RBIs.

Junior Daniel Hill, batting .315, is tied for second in the conference with nine home runs. He is fourth with 37 RBIs.

MSU is batting .315, which ranks fifth in the OVC.

"Cunningham is having a great year and so are some of their other hitters," Hogan said.

Junior left-hander Daniel Calhoun -- like Cunningham a preseason all-OVC pick -- is 6-1 with a 1.91 ERA. He leads the league in wins, strikeouts (51) and complete games (4), while ranking second in ERA.

Calhoun, whose lone loss is a 2-1 decision at Eastern Illinois, will start today's seven-inning second game.

"He's one of the better pitchers in our league," Hogan said. "He'll be tough to beat."

Junior Chris Craycraft (4-2, 4.50) will start today's nine-inning opener for the Thoroughbreds, with MSU's starter for Saturday's nine-inning series finale to be determined.

The Thoroughbreds' 4.72 team ERA is second in the OVC.

"They've got some very good arms," Hogan said.

Southeast will start senior left-hander James Leigh (5-0, 3.53) in today's opener. Leigh, like Calhoun, ranks high in most of the OVC's statistical pitching categories.

Senior Todd Strahlendorf (1-0, 6.32) will work today's nightcap, with junior Kyle Gumieny (1-2, 5.75) getting the ball Saturday.

The Redhawks have a 6.34 ERA, along with a .307 batting average.

Five full-time regulars are hitting above .300 for Southeast, led by senior right fielder Tyrell Cummings (.375) and senior second baseman Tony Spencer (.367), followed by junior catcher Jim Klocke (.350), senior first baseman Matt Wagner (.337) and freshman shortstop Kenton Parmley (.305).

Wagner and senior left fielder Justin Wheeler are tied for second in the OVC home run race with nine apiece.

Klocke, in his first year as a collegiate pitcher, is tied for the OVC saves lead with six.