Redhawks take break from OVC play

~ Southeast will play five nonconference baseball games at Capaha Field this week.

Southeast Missouri State's pitching staff should get a workout this week as the Redhawks play five games.

All are at home and all are outside the Ohio Valley Conference, beginning with today's 3 p.m. contest against Southern Illinois-Carbondale.

The week was supposed to be even busier for the Redhawks, but Wednesday's home date against Saint Louis University has been cancelled because the Billikens are already on pace for the NCAA maximum of 56 games.

Southeast coach Mark Hogan said he knew there was a possibility Wednesday's contest could be in danger because it was scheduled later than usual.

The contract between the two teams only allowed for the game if the Billikens had a previous contest canceled, which did not occur.

"We went ahead and set it up anyway even though they already had 56 games scheduled because normally you get some games wiped out by the weather," Hogan said. "Unbelievably, they haven't had any weather problems. You never expect that.

"It would have been nice to play the game, but we'll still have a full week."

After today's contest, the Redhawks will play a four-game series with future OVC member Southern Illinois-Edwardsville beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and the set concludes at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The series was originally scheduled for only three games, so the extra contest makes up for not playing Wednesday.

"That should be an interesting series, against a club that we'll be seeing in the conference in a few years," Hogan said.

Southeast, 19-13 overall, is 9-3 in the OVC halfway through its 24-game conference schedule.

The Redhawks lost their first OVC series of the season over the weekend, dropping two of three at Murray State.

Southeast is second in the nine-team league, behind 9-1 Eastern Illinois.

"Going into the year, I'd certainly have taken 9-3 midway through the conference season," Hogan said. "You stay on that type of pace and you usually finish either first or second."

While the Redhawks have fared well in league play, that has not been the case in recent midweek, nonconference games.

The Redhawks have dropped their last four such contests by a combined score of 48-6. That includes last week's 7-0 loss at SIU-Carbondale, Southeast's first shutout defeat of the season.

It's understandable that Southeast's pitching would have some problems in midweek, nonleague games because the Redhawks generally use hurlers who haven't seen much action.

That Southeast's offense has struggled so much in those types of games is harder to figure out, but Hogan thinks the Redhawks are simply not swinging the bats as well as they were earlier in the season.

"We haven't been doing as much offensively as we were earlier," Hogan said. "But I'm not really worried about our offense. I think we'll be fine."

SIU-Carbondale, 13-20 overall and 3-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, comes to town having lost seven of its last eight. The only win in that stretch came against Southeast.

The squads have split their annual home-and-home series each of the past four seasons, so Southeast needs a win today to continue that trend.

Hogan said senior Daniel Schuh will probably start against the Salukis. He has no record with a 13.50 ERA in 13 1/3 innings, including one start.

"We'll have several guys ready to go," Hogan said. "We've got several guys who need some work."

Southeast's pitching staff remains a work in progress as Hogan searches for reliable hurlers beyond the Redhawks' primary starters and relievers.

"We still need to keep throwing guys out there," Hogan said. "We're still searching for answers."

Southeast carries a .300 batting average -- that figure has dropped considerably over the past week -- and a 6.82 ERA. SIU is hitting .278 and has a 5.28 ERA.

Four Southeast regulars are batting above .300, led by senior right fielder Tyrell Cummings at .377.

Cummings is followed by senior second baseman Tony Spencer (.342), senior first baseman Matt Wagner (.333) and junior catcher Jim Klocke (.330).

Freshman designated hitter Kody Campbell from Oran is hitting .343 in 35 at-bats.

SIU is led by senior catcher Mark Kelly (.346). He went 4-for-5 in last week's win over Southeast.

Today starts a stretch of seven straight nonconference home games in a nine-day period for the Redhawks, who also face Evansville on April 21 and Arkansas State on April 22 before resuming OVC play April 25 at Austin Peay.