Redhawks take on Michigan State, Mississippi State

The 2010 Southeast Missouri State baseball team has already posted one win over a major conference program.

Southeast will have a chance to add to that total over the next three days as the Redhawks play four games at the BankFirst Challenge in Starkville, Miss.

The Redhawks play twice today, against Michigan State of the Big Ten Conference at 12:30 p.m. and host Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference at 4 p.m.

Southeast takes on Mississippi State again at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by a rematch with Michigan State at 11 a.m. Sunday.

"It should be an interesting three days of baseball," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

The 4-3 Redhawks own a victory over Auburn of the SEC as they captured the opener of a three-game series to start the season. Auburn won the next two, one in extra innings.

Mississippi State is also 4-3, after going 25-29 last year and finishing last in the SEC at 9-20.

Michigan State is 4-2. The Spartans are coming off a 23-31 season that saw them place fifth in the Big Ten at 13-11.

Southeast has never met either Mississippi State or Michigan State on the baseball diamond.

"We'll face some very good competition," Hogan said. "With 36 innings scheduled in three days, our pitching will be tested."

After this weekend's action, Southeast is slated to play 11 straight home games starting Tuesday against Missouri State.

Gymnast nabs honor

Southeast freshman gymnast Jordan Salsberg has been named Midwest Independent Conference all-arounder of the week. It is Salsberg's second weekly award from the MIC.

Salsberg captured her first collegiate all-around title with a career-high score of 38.825 during last weekend's win over Illinois State. She also added an individual title on vault.

Salsberg rounded out her performance by placing third on beam, fourth on bars and seventh on floor.

The Redhawks, 11-2 overall, 6-0 in the MIC and ranked 34th nationally, will look to continue their strong season Sunday as they host their only meet of the year at the Show Me Center.

No. 18 Missouri and Alaska will join Southeast for the Outback Invitational that begins at 2 p.m.

Softball back in action

After nearly two weeks off, the Southeast softball team returns to action at the annual Missouri Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament in Columbia, Mo. The Redhawks will play two games both today and Saturday.

Southeast (4-3) faces Missouri-Kansas City (2-10) at 1:30 p.m. today, followed by a 5:30 p.m. matchup with Saint Louis (4-5).

The Redhawks conclude play Saturday against nationally-ranked Missouri (8-2) at 3:30 p.m., followed by a contest with Missouri State (0-7) at 5:30 p.m.

Missouri, the host squad, is ranked third and fourth in the two major national polls.

Volleyball raises money

The Southeast volleyball program raised $12,600 in its annual Dig for Life campaign, which assists in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Dig for Life, which was started in 2000 by former Southeast volleyball coach and current associate athletic director Cindy Gannon in partnership with Saint Francis Medical Center, has raised over $75,000 since its inception.

-- From staff reports