Redhawks strive for top six in conference

Southeast Missouri State has posted several big victories in an otherwise struggling season -- yet failed to capitalize on the potential momentum.

The Redhawks (18-28, 9-12) hope that changes this weekend, as they begin a late push to make the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament with a three-game series at Tennessee Tech (12-36, 5-15).

There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader today and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

Southeast is coming off just its second OVC series win of the year, as the Redhawks took two of three from first-place Morehead State last weekend at Capaha Field.

"We've had some big wins before, where we haven't been able to capitalize on the momentum," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We'll find out this weekend if we're able to. It would really be a shame if we're not."

If the Redhawks aren't able to finish the season strong -- they have six OVC games remaining, including next weekend's home series with Tennessee-Martin -- they could find themselves left out of the OVC Tournament for the first time since Hogan took over the program in 1995.

Even if the Redhawks do close with a rush, there is no guarantee they'll qualify for the conference tournament. The top six finishers in the 10-team league make the field, and Southeast currently sits in a seventh-place tie.

Southeast is just one game behind sixth-place Samford (10-11), but the Bulldogs own a potential tie-breaker with the Redhawks by virtue of winning two of three during the teams' series.

A strong finish could also potentially give Southeast a chance to catch fifth-place Eastern Kentucky (11-9) or fourth-place Murray State (12-9). But the bottom line is that the Redhawks need help from outside sources no matter what they do the rest of the way.

"We still need some help, but we just have to take care of ourselves and see what happens," Hogan said.

Said junior left-hander Derek Herbig, "We need to take it one game at a time, but if we play like we did against Morehead State, there's no reason we can't finish strong. And hopefully that will be good enough to get us in the tournament."

On paper, the Redhawks figure to have a good chance to fare well in their final six OVC games because they take on the teams tied for last place.

This weekend's opponent, Tennessee Tech, has struggled virtually all season. The Eagles rank last in the OVC in earned-run average (7.51), next-to-last in batting average (.260) and next-to-last in runs scored (215).

But Southeast hasn't been much better offensively. The Redhawks are tied for seventh in batting average (.270) and rank eighth in runs scored (219), although they did explode for season highs of 16 runs and 18 hits in their most recent outing, a 16-4 rout of Morehead State.

"The best thing we can do is establish our offense again," Hogan said.

Tennessee Tech's top offensive players are seniors Brandon Selvog (.328) and Nathan Marty (.312, nine home runs, 36 runs batted in).

Although he has thrown just 39 1/3 innings, the Eagles' top starting pitcher has been freshman right-hander Michael Alcorn (3-1, 3.99). Their other likely starters this weekend are sophomore right-hander Justin Fields (1-7, 6.10) and senior right-hander Colt Ashman (2-5, 7.13).

Southeast is led offensively by senior third baseman Eric Horstman (.343), who has a 16-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 38 consecutive games.

On the mound, the Redhawks rank fifth in the OVC with a 5.17 ERA. Projected to start today are freshman right-hander Joey Evans (6-4, 3.32) and junior right-hander Jamie McAlister (2-6, 4.34), followed by Herbig (4-2, 4.50) on Sunday.