Southeast Missouri State baseball team seeks to avenge loss to Saint Louis

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team doesn't have to wait long to try an avenge a recent loss.

Southeast (11-10) visits Saint Louis University (12-9) today for a 3 p.m. first pitch.

The Billikens beat the Redhawks 8-4 in Cape Girardeau on Feb. 26 to open the annual two-game season series between the in-state rivals.

"It'll be good to get an opportunity to get revenge on them," sophomore third baseman Andy Lennington said.

The Redhawks will look to avoid being swept by the Bills for the second straight season. Southeast lost both meetings to SLU last year, 22-11 in Cape Girardeau and 4-0 in St. Louis. The squads split their two games the previous season.

SLU is off to a solid start after its sensational 2012 campaign, although the Bills have lost five of their last seven games.

The Bills went 41-18 last year to set a school record for wins, captured the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season title and earned a No. 30 ranking by Collegiate Baseball.

The Bills, who have not yet started their A-10 schedule, returned eight position starters and nine pitchers from last season.

"They're a ballclub that just does not beat themselves," first-year Southeast interim coach Steve Bieser said. "We'll have to play a solid ballgame, but we look forward to the opportunity to have a chance to even the [season] series."

Southeast has righted the ship after winning just four of 13 games following a 5-0 start.

The Redhawks bounced back from a three-game losing streak by winning two of three at home over the weekend against defending Ohio Valley Conference co-champion Eastern Kentucky.

Southeast, which lost two of three during its OVC-opening series at Belmont, is 3-3 in conference play.

"It's good for us to get back to .500," Bieser said.

SLU outhit Southeast 15-8 in the first meeting. The Bills had two doubles, a triple and a homer while the Redhawks' only extra-base hit was a double. Both squads stranded 10 runners.

"They're a good ballclub but we're playing well now. I think we have a good chance," Lennington said.

Following today's game, Southeast resumes OVC play this weekend with a three-game series at Morehead State. Starting times are 2 p.m. Friday, noon Saturday and noon Sunday.