SE, MTSU TO TANGLE IN IMPORTANT OVC SERIES

It's early in the Ohio Valley Conference baseball season for both Southeast Missouri State University and Middle Tennessee, but there is no denying the importance of this weekend's series between the teams.

Plenty will be on the line for the Indians and Raiders during the three-game set at Capaha Field. The squads will square off in a 2 p.m. doubleheader today, followed by a 2 p.m. single game Sunday.

"It's a very important series for both teams, no question about it," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's our first OVC home series, so we're really looking forward to that, but we know how tough it's going to be."

Southeast and MTSU are tied for second place in the OVC, both with 4-1 league records. Eastern Kentucky leads the nine-team conference at 8-1.

The Indians are 18-7 overall after Wednesday's 8-6 non-league win at Southern Illinois. The Raiders, who got off to a slow start this season, are 16-14 overall as they have won 13 of their last 18 games.

MTSU was a solid preseason choice as the OVC favorite, receiving six of nine first-place votes from the league's coaches. That fact adds even more spice to this weekend's series, since the Indians were picked to finish fourth.

"Middle Tennessee was picked overwhelmingly by the coaches to win the league and they've been playing very well lately," Hogan said. "You don't want to put too much emphasis on it, but one team will come out of this series feeling really good and this series could go a long way toward determining what happens the rest of the way.

"We're very excited about the series and it should be really great for the fans, with two excellent ballclubs playing each other."

Said Southeast first baseman Darin Kinsolving, "Middle Tennessee is picked to finish first (in the OVC). It's a big series and it should be interesting. I know we're all looking forward to it."

Eastern Kentucky leads the nine-team league with an 8-1 record, with Southeast and MTSU tied for second.

Murray State and Eastern Illinois are tied for fourth at 5-3, followed by Tennessee Tech (2-3), Morehead State (1-5), Austin Peay (1-8) and Tennessee-Martin (0-5).

Other OVC series this weekend feature Eastern Kentucky at Morehead State, Tennessee Tech at Eastern Illinois and Tennessee-Martin at Murray State.

SEMO softball has big series

Like their baseball counterparts, the Southeast softball Otahkians also have a key OVC home series this weekend as Eastern Kentucky comes to Cape Girardeau.

The squads will have a 2 p.m. doubleheader today and a 2 p.m. single game Sunday, with all the action at the Southeast Softball Complex.

Southeast, 11-15 overall after being swept by visiting Southern Illinois in non-league action Wednesday, is 3-1 in the OVC.

EKU has a 3-0 OVC record and is one of three undefeated squads in the nine-team league. Middle Tennessee and Eastern Illinois are tied for first at 5-0, followed by EKU, Tennessee-Martin (6-1) and Southeast.

The Otahkians are shooting for their sixth consecutive OVC regular-season title this year.

All Sport Classic is today

The 19th annual All Sport Classic track & field meet will be held today at Southeast's Abe Stuber Complex.

Field events begin at 9 a.m., with running events slated for a 10 a.m. start. The entire meet should end by approximately 4 p.m.

Nine men's teams and 10 women's squads are scheduled to compete.