Redhawks shoot for sixth straight win

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will try to remain hot at home today while also avenging one of its early-season losses.

Saint Louis University, which beat Southeast 10-6 on March 2 in St. Louis, pays a visit to Capaha Field at 3 p.m.

The Redhawks wrap up their 10-game homestand at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with a contest against Arkansas State.

Then it's on to the start of Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Morehead State this weekend.

"Hopefully we can get these two midweek games and get ready for conference," junior third baseman Casey Jones said.

Southeast (11-8) has won five straight and seven of eight on its current homestand. The Redhawks are coming off a three-game series sweep of Valparaiso over the weekend.

"We want to get as far away from .500 as we can," Jones said.

SLU (11-9) is coming off Saturday's impressive home doubleheader sweep of Kansas, which was ranked 19th nationally at the time. The Billikens beat the Jayhawks 12-8 and 8-5.

SLU's program, which has for the most part struggled over the years, appears to be on the rise under third-year coach Darin Hendrickson.

Last season the Bills went 30-25 for just their fourth winning record since 1972 and only their third 30-victory campaign in school history.

Hendrickson's first two SLU squads won 54 games, the most over a two-year span.

"They've got a good ballclub, and it should be an interesting matchup," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

The Redhawks, who outhit SLU 18-13 in the earlier meeting, have been rolling offensively with a .339 average that leads the OVC.

Jones, a junior college transfer, is the league's top hitter at .482. He has hit safely in 13 straight games -- every contest since becoming a starter.

Not far behind Jones are juco transfer second baseman Tim Rupp (.382), juco transfer left fielder Michael Adamson (.378), and junior center fielder Blake Slattery (.375), a Central High School graduate.

"We're really hitting the ball up and down the lineup," said junior right fielder Louie Haseltine, whose three home runs are tied with senior catcher Jim Klocke for the team lead.

SLU also has a potent offense with a .318 mark and the Bills have 29 home runs compared to 12 for Southeast.

Senior first baseman Danny Brock is having a big season for the Bills. He leads them with a .405 average, 10 homers and 36 RBIs. He had two homers in the early win over Southeast.

Southeast has a significant statistical advantage on the mound with a 4.91 ERA compared to 7.17 for SLU.

The Redhawks are second in the OVC in ERA, with their top three starters -- juco transfer left-hander Jordan Underwood (1-3, 3.38), senior right-hander Kyle Gumieny (3-0, 3.48) and juco transfer lefty Logan Mahon (2-0, 3.86) -- ranking second, third and sixth in ERA.

But neither team figures to use its top starters today after having games over the weekend and with both squads opening conference play this weekend.

Wednesday's contest against Arkansas State (12-8, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) also should be a rugged test for Southeast. The Red Wolves lead the Sun Belt Conference with a 3.47 ERA and are hitting .313.

"These should be two really good games to close out the homestand," Hogan said.