Southeast baseball sets sights on bye in tourney

~ The Redhawks try to hold onto second as they visit Eastern Kentucky this weekend.

Southeast Missouri State hasn't given up on winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season baseball championship, although that is a long shot right now.

Southeast's primary focus is retaining its precarious hold on second place in the nine-team league heading into the Redhawks' final six games.

The top two finishers earn a first-round bye for the six-team conference tournament.

"We're not out of it, but the big thing is to finish in the top two," junior catcher Jim Klocke said. "The bye is big."

Southeast (25-18, 11-6) will try to at least remain in second this weekend when it visits sixth-place Eastern Kentucky (24-20, 7-11) for a three-game series.

There will be a noon doubleheader today and a noon contest Sunday.

"Getting the bye for the tournament would be huge," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

After losing a home doubleheader to first-place Eastern Illinois last weekend -- the final game of the series was rained out -- the Redhawks trail the Panthers (12-3) by three games on the loss side.

"It's pretty much their championship to win now," Hogan said. "We're not out of it, but we would need some help."

Foremost on Southeast's mind is staying ahead of third-place Murray State (9-6-1) and fourth-place Jacksonville State (10-7).

"It's a really close race for second through fourth right now," Hogan said.

While Southeast is battling for a first-round tournament bye, EKU is trying to solidify its hold on a tournament berth.

EKU holds the sixth and final spot, but Tennessee Tech (7-11-1) and Austin Peay (6-10) are within one-half game of the Colonels.

"They've got a lot to play for just like we do, so it should be a good series," Hogan said. "It's never easy any time you go on the road."

The Colonels feature a high-powered offense that ranks second in the OVC and ninth nationally with a .350 batting average, although that figure is 32 points lower (.318) in league play.

EKU also is fifth nationally in runs scored at 9.6 per game and fourth in stolen bases with 115 (in 146 attempts). Both figures lead the OVC.

"They've got a very dangerous offensive team and they like to run," Hogan said.

Sophomore Jaysen Langfels is fourth nationally with a .451 average and second with 59 RBIs. He leads EKU with 10 home runs and six triples.

Senior Matt Davis is not far behind Langfels with a .438 average that places him ninth nationally, while senior Tyler Rehmel is hitting .400. Davis has 23 steals in 26 attempts.

Langfels and Davis are the OVC's No. 2 and No. 3 hitters, while Davis leads in steals and Langfels is tied for first in RBIs.

EKU's starting pitchers don't have imposing numbers, although sophomore left-hander Paul Duncan recently threw a nonconference no-hitter against Chicago State.

Duncan leads the Colonels with a 6-5 record. His ERA is 5.45.

Southeast will go with its normal starting rotation of senior left-hander James Leigh (6-1, 4.74), senior Todd Strahlendorf (2-2, 6.29) and junior Kyle Gumieny (3-2, 6.22).

Following this weekend's series, the Redhawks end the regular season next Friday and Saturday with a three-game home set against Morehead State.

Klocke nets honor

Klocke is among six OVC baseball players who were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first team.

Klocke, who is among the league's top hitters and relief pitchers, has a 3.92 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance.

The OVC's freshman of the year in 2007, a first-team all-OVC selection in 2008 and a preseason All-American this year, Klocke's .378 average ranks second on the squad and is tied for 15th in the league.

He leads Southeast with 15 doubles and 24 walks, which are tied for sixth and eighth in the OVC, respectively.

Klocke, expected to be selected in next month's amateur draft, also has six homers and 38 RBIs.

And in his first season as Southeast's closer, Klocke is tied for second in the OVC with seven saves.

"Jim's had a great career for us already and he's having a super season," Hogan said. "This is a very nice honor for him."

Other academic all-district selections from the OVC are Morehead State's Drew Lee and Michael Bottoms, Eastern Illinois' Brian Morrell, Murray State's Wes Cunningham and Jacksonville State's Todd Cunningham.

All six now will appear on the national ballot for consideration for Academic All-American honors.