Southeast Missouri State's Moses lands OVC baseball honor

~ The junior third baseman was named the conference's player of the week after going 11 for 14 against North Dakota

Trenton Moses had a monster weekend for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team.

His performance during the three-game series against North Dakota resulted in an individual honor as Moses was named the Ohio Valley Conference player of the week Monday.

Moses, a junior third baseman from Advance, Mo., batted .786 (11 for 14) with a home run, two doubles, five RBIs and five runs scored as Southeast won the final two contests from UND after losing the opener. He went 5 for 5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs in Sunday's 15-0 romp.

Moses, who missed all but four games last season with a shoulder injury, is the OVC's fifth-leading hitter with a team-high .415 average. He has been on a tear after starting the year 0 for 14.

Southeast players congratulate Tim Rupp on his two- run during Sunday's 15-0 win against North Dakota at Capaha Field. The Redhawks will take a two-game winning streak to Springfield, Mo., when they open a two-game series today against Missouri State. (Laura Simon)

"He's really been playing well and he had a tremendous weekend," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Redhawks visit Missouri State

Now Southeast will look to build on its two-game winning streak when the Redhawks visit Missouri State.

Southeast (9-6) and the Bears (8-7) square off in a two-game series in Springfield, Mo., featuring contests at 6:30 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Wednesday.

The squads have met annually for a two-game series the past few seasons but last year's set in Cape Girardeau was trimmed to just one contest due to rain. Southeast emerged with a 12-11 win.

"We usually have good games with them, and it should be an interesting series," Hogan said.

The Bears have been a perennial Missouri Valley Conference power under 29th year coach Keith Gutten, who has a 967-614 career record and led MSU to the 2003 College World Series.

MSU struggled last season, going 21-34 overall and 6-15 in the MVC, but is expected to bounce back this year.

The Bears have lost four straight, including a three-game weekend sweep at Southern Mississippi in which they were outscored 35-8.

MSU only has played three home games so far, winning all of them. The Bears have beaten Southeast 14 straight times in Springfield, have won nine of the past 11 meetings overall and lead the all-time series 60-37.

"They've got a really good program," Hogan said. "It's always a challenge to play them."

The Bears lead the MVC with a .317 batting average.Aaron Conway's .431 mark tops the league. Their 5.40 ERA is last in the MVC.

Southeast leads the OVC in hitting at .300 and and in ERA at 2.99.

Hogan said standout sophomore closer Shae Simmons will get his first start of the season today as Hogan contemplates having him assume a starting role for OVC play.

Simmons, from Scott City, has made just two collegiate starts, both late last year.

"I'm really excited about Shae getting this start," Hogan said.