Southeast Missouri State baseball team seeks an identity

The highly touted Southeast Missouri State baseball team started the season strong but has found wins hard to come by recently.

Southeast hopes to regain its swagger this weekend when Ohio Valley Conference play begins.

"We had kind of a rough stretch, but now it's a new start," senior left fielder Michael Adamson said. "Now we're playing for what's really important. I'll be surprised if we're not rejuvenated."

The Redhawks (11-10) welcome Morehead State (3-18) to Capaha Field for a three-game series. There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

"It's a new season," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast Missouri State's Kenton Parmley hits a home run against Wright State during the second inning Saturday at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast won seven of its first nine games but since then the Redhawks are 4-8. They have lost four of their last five, including three of four on their current eight-game homestand.

"Are we the team that started out 7-2 or the one that's 4-8?" Hogan said. "We've had some good stretches but right now we're an unknown."

Until Tuesday's 14-8 loss to Saint Louis University, in which the Billikens led 11-3 after 3 1/2 innings and never were threatened, most of Southeast's recent setbacks had been of the gut-wrenching variety.

The Redhawks have lost three games by one run and three more by two runs.

"Statistically we're fine," said Hogan, whose squad leads the OVC in ERA and runs scored while ranking second in hitting and second in fielding. "The only stat we really haven't done is finish games off. The biggest stat is the wins."

Southeast Missouri State closer Shae Simmons delivers against Wright State during Saturday's game at Capaha Field.

Despite its recent struggles, Southeast -- picked to finish second in the nine-team OVC -- still has the league's second-best overall record, behind only preseason favorite Jacksonville State (15-6).

But Hogan knows the deep, experienced Redhawks are capable of much more.

"I don't know how good you can feel after a 7-2 start to be 11-10 now," Hogan said. "We're still trying to find ourselves."

The Redhawks should have a good chance to find themselves against a Morehead squad that has struggled after missing the six-team OVC tournament a year ago and being picked to finish eighth this season.

Morehead, which has the OVC's worst overall record, has suffered a host of lopsided losses, including Tuesday's 32-17 rout by Canisius. The Eagles have been outscored 247 to 115.

The Eagles have a respectable .288 batting average -- led by Taylor Davis at .378 -- but have by far the OVC's worst ERA at 9.13. The top ERA among their primary starters is 6.59.

Hogan, however, said it would be a mistake to take the Eagles lightly.

"They're 0-0 [in the OVC] coming in here too. For every team right now it's a new season," Hogan said. "We'll have plenty of respect for them. But more than thinking about our next opponent, I'm concerned about us."

Although Southeast's ERA ballooned from 2.98 to 3.44 after Tuesday's loss, the Redhawks still lead the conference.

They are batting .295.

Hogan said the Redhawks will go with their normal weekend starting rotation that has been solid most of the year.

Senior left-hander Jordan Underwood (1-0, 2.76 ERA) will work Saturday's nine-inning opener, followed by senior Jon Dicus (2-0, 2.10) in the seven-inning nightcap and senior Brad LaBruyere (2-0, 3.00) in Sunday's nine-inning series finale.

"Our top three starters and first couple of guys out of the bullpen have been really good," Adamson said. "If we just get them a few runs we should be in good shape."