Redhawks visit struggling Govs

~ Southeast baseball has a chance to move into first place this weekend against Austin Peay.

Austin Peay has been among the Ohio Valley Conference's top baseball teams in recent years, but the 2009 Governors are struggling.

Southeast Missouri State hopes to keep the Govs down this weekend while boosting its chances of an OVC regular-season title.

The Redhawks (23-15, 9-3) and Govs (17-23, 3-7) will meet for a three-game series in Clarksville, Tenn. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader today and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

"There's a lot on the line for both teams," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad has played 12 of its scheduled 24 OVC games.

Southeast is second in the nine-team league, one-half game behind Eastern Illinois, which has no conference games this weekend. The Panthers visit Cape Girardeau next weekend in a first-place showdown.

"This weekend is big for us," senior second baseman Tony Spencer said. "We can come back [home] in first place."

But first, the Redhawks must take care of business against the Governors.

Austin Peay sits eighth in the OVC. The Govs' 3-7 league record -- they have had two games rained out -- represents their worst conference start through four weekends since 2000.

This from a program that has won three of the last seven OVC regular-season championships and two of the past four tournament crowns. The Govs most recently swept both titles in 2007.

Austin Peay has made 10 straight appearances in the OVC tournament -- the top six finishers qualify -- but if the season ended now the Govs wouldn't get in.

"I know this has got to be a disappointing year for them. They're looking for that spark," said Hogan, who has led Southeast into the OVC tournament during each of his 14 seasons for the league's longest current streak.

A suspect offense appears to be Austin Peay's major problem so far.

The Govs rank last in the OVC with a .278 batting average and in runs scored at just under six per game.

Four regulars are hitting better than .300 for the Govs, led by Trey Lucas (.350).

Austin Peay's pitching ranks in the middle of the pack of the OVC with a 5.81 ERA, while the Govs lead the conference in fielding percentage at .964.

The Govs are dangerous on the bases as they top the OVC with 93 steals -- ninth nationally -- while being thrown out only 19 times.

Austin Peay's No. 1 starter is Ryne Harper, who is 3-3 with a 4.33 ERA. The Govs also feature school career saves leader Daniel Tenholder, who has six this year.

Southeast will use its normal conference starters this weekend, although in a bit different order than the past two OVC series.

Junior Kyle Gumieny will work today's nine-inning opener, followed by senior Todd Strahlendorf in the seven-inning nightcap and senior left-hander James Leigh in Sunday's nine-inning series finale.

"We have a chance to come home in first place if things go well for us," Hogan said. "But I'm expecting nothing but a tough series."