Southeast baseball arranges game today against ranked Vanderbilt

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has picked up a game today against one of the nation's premier programs.

Southeast will face Vanderbilt in a 4 p.m. contest in Nashville, Tenn.

Vanderbilt (18-6, 5-3 Southeastern Conference) is ranked sixth by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, eighth by Baseball America and 13th by Collegiate Baseball.

"I'm very happy that things worked out for us to play them," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "It's exciting, a chance to play an SEC opponent, to go up against one of the premier programs in the nation."

Hogan said the matchup was put together Monday after he received an early morning call from one of the Commodores' assistant coaches.

"They've had some games rained out, and we've had quite a few rained out. They were looking for somebody available to play and it worked out well," said Hogan, whose squad has lost seven contests to bad weather.

Hogan is especially excited that, as part of the arrangement, Vanderbilt likely is to visit Capaha Field for a game next season.

"It's not set in stone yet, but we're working on the paperwork and it should happen," Hogan said. "It would be the first time we've ever hosted an SEC opponent."

Hogan said the Redhawks (10-8, 3-1 Ohio Valley Conference) will give Vanderbilt their best shot by starting senior ace Dustin Renfrow today.

Renfrow missed his scheduled start at Tennessee-Martin over the weekend when two of three games were rained out, and his next start likely will be Sunday against OVC opponent Murray State.

Renfrow is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA.

"We'll give it our best shot with Dusty, and we've got just about everybody else available to pitch," Hogan said.

After today's game, the Redhawks will have another nonconference contest Wednesday at Evansville (2-21) in a 6 p.m. start.

Hogan said freshman Brad LaBruyere from Central High School will start against Evansville.

LaBruyere has had an impressive rookie season so far, with a 2-0 record and a 2.31 ERA.

"I'm excited to give Brad the ball. He's really pitched well," Hogan said.

Wagner honored

Southeast junior first baseman Matt Wagner was named the OVC player of the week on Monday.

In three games last week, Wagner batted .625 with two home runs, one double and eight RBIs. He finished with 12 total bases and a 1.500 slugging percentage.

Wagner, who has a 10-game hitting streak, is second on the Redhawks with a .357 average, and he is tied with teammate Tyrell Cummings for the OVC home-run lead with six.