Redhawks try to extend fast start in series with Cleveland St.

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will look to build on its best start since 2001 this weekend.

Southeast (4-2) and Cleveland State (2-4) square off in a two-game series at Capaha Field, with 1 p.m. contests today and Sunday.

The Redhawks have won four of their first six games for the first time since 2001. The last time Southeast was 6-2 after eight games is 2000.

Southeast has won two of three games in each of its first two series, at Jackson State and last weekend at home against South Dakota State.

Today marks the first meeting ever between Southeast and Cleveland State, which went 10-42 last season.

Right-hander Dustin Renfrow, a junior college transfer, is scheduled to start today's series opener for the Redhawks.

Renfrow has a 1.93 earned-run average after two starts this season. He received no-decisions in both outings.

Both teams have struggled offensively so far. Southeast has a .231 batting average, while the Vikings are hitting .214 and have scored just 16 runs. The Redhawks have scored 29 runs.

Senior Asif Shah leads the Redhawks with a .429 average, and he also is 1-0 with an 0.84 ERA in 10 2/3 innings on the mound.

Shah is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference pitcher of the week after an eight-inning shutout of South Dakota State.

Also hitting above .300 for the Redhawks is senior Phillip Riley (.333). Nebraska transfer Matt Wagner leads in RBIs with six.

Vasili Pahoulis leads the Vikings with a .429 average.

Cleveland State's top starter has been Josh Hungerman, who is 1-1 with an 0.71 ERA. He threw a complete-game shutout against West Virginia.

Beginning today, Southeast will play 10 of its next 11 games at home.

Tennis begins OVC play

The Southeast women's tennis team travels to Birmingham, Ala., to play its first two Ohio Valley Conference matches of the season.

Southeast (2-3) faces defending OVC tournament champion Samford today and Jacksonville State on Sunday.

Samford (1-2) has won its only OVC match so far. The Bulldogs are the league's preseason favorite.

Jacksonville State is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in OVC play.