Redhawks control own tournament fate this weekend

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has not experienced consistent success this year, never winning more than three games in a row.

Southeast's overall and Ohio Valley Conference records reflect the up-and-down nature of the season as the Redhawks are .500 in both departments.

But the bottom line is that Southeast is well within reach of a notable accomplishment.

The Redhawks need two victories during their final OVC series to assure themselves a 14th consecutive berth in the conference tournament.

Southeast has qualified for the event 13 straight years, the longest active streak in the league.

That coincides with the entire Southeast coaching career of Mark Hogan, in his 14th season at his alma mater.

"I think it's something we can be proud of," Hogan said.

Southeast (22-22, 11-11) enters today's noon doubleheader at Morehead State fifth in the 10-team OVC. The Redhawks are one-half game out of third place in the scrambled middle of the conference pack.

The Redhawks will clinch a spot in next week's six-team OVC tournament in Paducah, Ky., by taking at least two of three from the ninth-place Eagles (16-32, 6-18).

Southeast and MSU also play at noon Saturday in the regular-season finale.

All final OVC series are moved up a day each year to allow squads to set up their pitching rotations in time for Wednesday's first round conference tournament games.

"We're in a good spot to make the tournament, but we still have to go there and play well," Southeast's Matt Wagner said.

That is also Hogan's emphasis because he knows the Eagles won't roll over for Southeast, even though they have been eliminated from OVC tournament contention.

"They're not playing for anything but pride, and that can be dangerous," Hogan said. "We have a lot on the line."

Hogan doesn't hide the fact that he had much higher regular-season hopes for the Redhawks, who have been done in by a pitching staff that has not lived up to the coach's expectations.

Southeast's 5.77 ERA is seventh in the OVC. In league play, the Redhawks are eighth at 6.90.

"There's no reason to sugarcoat it. Our pitching just hasn't done the job," Hogan said. "It's been hit and miss with the staff.

"But more recently we've seen our staff throw better. That has me optimistic."

Assuming the Redhawks make it to the OVC tournament, Hogan sees no reason why they can't win the championship and the league's automatic NCAA regional berth as long as the pitching produces.

"We're good enough to run the tournament if we put it together," Hogan said.

If Hogan thinks Southeast's pitchers have struggled as a group, then Morehead State's coaches must be beside themselves.

Eagles' shortcomings

The Eagles are ninth in the OVC with a 7.72 ERA. In conference play, they are last at 9.14.

Add that to the Eagles' OVC-worst .261 batting average, and it's no wonder they have been ranked toward the bottom of the standings all season.

Morehead State does boast OVC home run leader Eric Allen with 13 — Southeast's Tyrell Cummings is second with 11 — but the small dimensions at the Eagles' park aid Allen's success.

Hogan said he plans to use the same pitching rotation for the final series as he did for last weekend's set with Eastern Kentucky, in which the Redhawks received three solid starting performances.

Senior right-hander Dustin Renfrow (4-5, 4.68) will start today's nine-inning opener, followed by junior left-hander James Leigh (5-1, 5.17) in the seven-inning nightcap.

Senior right-hander Ivan Nails (2-3, 6.82) will work Saturday's nine-inning finale.

Good news on Spencer

Starting infielder Tony Spencer, who has played second base and shortstop, was held out of Wednesday's game against Central Arkansas as Southeast tried to clarify his academic eligibility.

Southeast's second semester recently concluded, and there was a question centering around one of Spencer's classes from the recent semester.

Following Wednesday's contest, Hogan was not sure if Spencer would be on the team bus that departed Cape Girardeau for Morehead, Ky., on Thursday morning.

But Spencer did accompany the squad to Morehead State and Hogan said Spencer's situation is expected to be cleared up favorably in time for today's doubleheader.

"We expect Tony to be fine to play the rest of the season," Hogan said as the bus was en route Thursday afternoon.