Indians open OVC season today against Murray State

Southeast Missouri State University's 7-10 baseball record will mean little starting today when the Indians kick off their Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against Murray State at Capaha Field.

The squads will also play a 1 p.m. single game Saturday.

"I'm not really concerned about our record," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "You'd always like it to be better, but realistically we knew it would be tough against the type of schedule we've played so far."

The Indians have lost three games to nationally ranked Oklahoma, two to nationally ranked Wichita State and three to Southwest Missouri State, which is threatening to break into the national polls.

Murray has already played a conference series. The Thoroughbreds winning two of three games against Morehead State last weekend. Murray (8-10) has won six of their last seven games overall.

The Thoroughbreds rank last in the OVC in batting with a .244 team average, but are third in earned-run average at 5.79, behind Southeast's 5.44.

Murray's pitching staff has gotten a lift from Central High School product Craig Ringwald, a left-hander who is 3-0 with a 4.15 ERA and could get a starts this weekend. He pitched into the ninth inning during the Thoroughbreds' 6-2 win over Morehead on Sunday.

Ringwald played the past two seasons at Three Rivers Community College.

The Thoroughbreds are led offensively by Garner Byars (.328, 15 runs batted in) and Todd Satterfield (.385 in limited at-bats).

Southeast's leaders are Tristen McDonald (.391, three home runs, 18 RBIs); Vern Hatton (.338); Zach Borowiak (.333, three homers, 16 RBIs); and Eric Hoffman (.316).

Brad Purcell (2-2, 3.43 ERA) and Brandon Smith (3-1, 4.40) will be today's starters, with Andy Sheridan (1-0, 0.90 in 10 innings) likely to get the nod Saturday. Sheridan tossed six shutout innings against St. Louis Tuesday in his first start of the season.