Redhawks, Salukis ready to slug it out

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will try to continue its hot streak today when the Redhawks step out of Ohio Valley Conference play.

Southern Illinois visits Capaha Field at 3 p.m. for the first of the two annual meetings between the regional rivals.

SIU leads the all-time series with Southeast 40-23-1 and swept both games last season, 7-0 in Carbondale and 4-2 in 10 innings in Cape Girardeau.

"It's great to be this close [in distance] from such a really good program," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We see them a lot on the recruiting trail. It's a big game, a good midweek game for us."

Southeast is 18-9 overall and 5-1 in OVC play, which has the Redhawks tied for first place. They have won four straight and 12 of 13. Southeast is 15-1 at home so far.

"I'm loving it right now," sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley said following Saturday's 8-7 win over visiting Eastern Kentucky that completed a three-game OVC series sweep. "We're playing really good and hopefully we can keep it going."

Southeast continues to lead the OVC in batting average (.355) -- a mark that also ranks among the national leaders -- and earned-run average (5.55). The Redhawks are third in fielding percentage (.959).

"Everything is really clicking for us right now," junior college transfer left fielder Michael Adamson said. "But there's a long way to go. We just want to keep progressing, keep getting better."

Hogan likes to hear that kind of talk. He believes the Redhawks are a well-grounded group that is not about to get carried away with its current success.

"It's great that we're playing well and winning a lot of games, but it's still so early in the conference season," said Hogan, whose squad only has played six of its scheduled 24 OVC contests. "But I've said all along that I really do like this club."

SIU is also hot. The Salukis (14-14, 4-2 Missouri Valley Conference) have won five straight and nine of 11.

The Salukis are batting .317 and have a 6.75 ERA. Sophomore Chris Serritella leads SIU in home runs with nine and RBIs with 31 in addition to carrying a .343 average.

"They've got a nice ballclub and it should be a good game," Hogan said.

Hogan is especially happy that SIU coach Dan Callahan continues to progress in his three-year battle with cancer.

Callahan, the second-winningest coach in SIU baseball history, underwent a number of medical treatments and procedures last season that limited his coaching duties.

"He's one of my good friends and he has battled cancer like a pro," said Hogan, Southeast's winningest baseball coach who is in his 16th season at his alma mater. "It will be a joy for me to see him.

"His kids play hard. They do a great job over there."

Junior right-hander Corey Harness, 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA, is scheduled to start on the mound today.

Harness notched his first collegiate victory in his most recent outing, throwing five shutout innings against Arkansas State on March 24.

Following today's matchup, Southeast resumes league play this weekend with a three-game home series against defending OVC tournament champion Tennessee Tech (11-17, 0-3).

That set will conclude a stretch that had the Redhawks playing 17 of 20 contests at Capaha Field. They then hit the road for 10 straight.

"We love playing at home. We get great crowds and we usually have a lot of success at Capaha," Hogan said. "But I think we've got the type of club that can also have a lot of success on the road."