SEMO TURNS ITS FOUCS TO TENNESSEE TECH

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan has to make sure the Indians keep their entire focus on Tennessee Tech this weekend -- for a couple of reasons.

First, Southeast may have one eye on another Ohio Valley Conference series going on this weekend, that featuring Eastern Kentucky at Middle Tennessee in a matchup that affects the Indians greatly.

And second, the Indians just might have a tendency to look ahead to next weekend's huge home series against Eastern Kentucky, when the regular season comes to a close and the OVC championship could very well be decided.

But Hogan knows that for the Indians to enter next weekend with a clear shot at their first OVC regular-season title, they must first take care of business against Tech.

And Hogan also knows the Eagles will have plenty at stake themselves when they host the Indians in a three-game set in Cookeville, Tenn. The teams will play a 4 p.m. doubleheader today and a 1 p.m. single game Sunday.

For all of the above reasons, Hogan expects the Indians to be focused on their task at hand this weekend.

"(Looking ahead) is always a concern, but I don't believe that will be the case for this ballclub," said Hogan. "First, we've got such a mature group and our seniors are such good leaders. I know they'll make sure the entire ballclub is very focused.

"And the bottom line is, we can't afford to have any letdown at all because this is a huge series for us. If we don't do well this weekend, then it really puts a damper on next weekend's series with Eastern Kentucky. We can't worry about anything else. We just have to take care of business. This is the most important weekend of the year for our ballclub."

Southeast and Tech both need to do well this weekend, but for different reasons.

The Indians, 30-13 overall and 13-4 in league play, are locked in a tight three-way battle for the OVC regular-season championship. Southeast and Middle Tennessee are tied for second, both 1 1/2 games behind 15-3 Eastern Kentucky.

Tech, meanwhile, is fighting just to qualify for the OVC postseason tournament. The top six finishers in the nine-team league make the tourney field. The Eagles, 24-23 overall and 6-8 in conference play, are currently in a virtual sixth-place tie with Austin Peay, although the Governors are slightly ahead in percentage points.

"They're fighting to stay alive," Hogan said. "So it's a very important series for both teams. We're trying to win the conference title and they're tying to get into the tournament."

This weekend's series will feature two of the OVC's top pitching staffs, so runs could be at a premium.

Southeast leads the league with a 3.88 earned-run average while Tech is third at 4.32.

Both squads have several of the conference's top starters. Southeast features Lanson Debrock (9-4, 2.93 ERA), Dan Huesgen (4-4, 3.36) and Tommy Thomas (5-2, 3.81) while Tech boasts Donnie Long (5-2, 2.43) and Casey Bough (3-5, 3.45).

Southeast also has the OVC's earned-run average leader in relief ace Jeffrey Hilz (6-1, 4 saves, 1.81 ERA).

"They've got an outstanding pitching staff and it's going to be a challenge for our offense to produce," said Hogan. "By the same token, our pitching has been outstanding so these could be very good, close ballgames."

Offensively, the Indians appear to have an advantage as they are second in the OVC in team batting with a .310 average while the Eagles are seventh at 285.

The Indians' Jeremy Johnson (.404), Kevin Meyer (.379) and Darin Kinsolving (.370) all rank among the OVC's top hitters while Charlie Marino leads the league in home runs with 14 and he's near the top in runs batted in with 50. Johnson and Kinsolving are right behind Marino with 13 homers apiece.

Tech is paced offensively by Matt Curtis (.374, 8 HR, 34 RBIs). Other top hitters are Ben Cunningham (.323) and Mark Gilliam (8 HR, 37 RBIs).

"We're looking for a tough series," Hogan said. "We just want to be in a position (to win the OVC title) next weekend, and in order for that to happen, we need to do well this weekend."