Redhawks baseball opens OVC play today against Tech

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team will begin its Ohio Valley Conference schedule against the squad with the league's best record.

Southeast coach Mark Hogan expects nothing but a tough series when Tennessee Tech visits Capaha Field for three games.

There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader today and 1 p.m. contest Saturday.

"We're going to have our hands full. I'm glad this first series is at home," Hogan said. "This is where it starts. ... there's a different level of excitement when you start playing conference games."

Southeast, expected to contend for an upper-division OVC finish -- the Redhawks wound up third last year and were picked fourth in the preseason poll -- is 6-6.

Tech is 13-5-1, after the Eagles placed eighth in the 10-team OVC in 2007 and were tabbed for that same spot in this year's preseason poll.

It's difficult to compare overall records at this point, since so few of the OVC squads have played common opponents.

But Hogan said the Eagles appear to be legitimate.

"They're riding a high right now with their record, and I think they've got a very solid ballclub," Hogan said.

Hogan also likes the look of his team, and he was particularly encouraged by last weekend's three-game series at Memphis that saw Southeast win twice.

"I feel pretty good about our club. I feel a heck of a lot better after the Memphis series," said Hogan, whose squad has had five games wiped out by bad weather. "There were a lot of positive signs."

Among the biggest positives was the return of sophomore Nick Harris, who had been out since suffering a knee injury during the Feb. 22 season opener at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Harris, a freshman All-American last year, served as Southeast's designated hitter against Memphis.

Hogan said he expects Harris, Southeast's leadoff batter, to man his normal shortstop position today.

"Getting Nick back was big for us, getting back to the lineup I had envisioned," Hogan said.

Another positive against Memphis was the performances of Southeast's top three starting pitchers.

Senior Dustin Renfrow, junior left-hander James Leigh and sophomore lefty Josh Syberg all worked at least six innings while allowing two runs or less.

"They've all thrown great for us," Hogan said.

Renfrow, a second-team all-OVC selection last season as Southeast's ace, struck out 11 in six innings.

Syberg, the Redhawks' No. 3 starter for league games a year ago, gave up one earned run over eight innings.

Leigh struck out 10 in six innings and was named the OVC co-pitcher of the week.

Leigh pitched just 17 1/3 innings last year following his transfer from a junior college. He was eased into action after several years of arm problems.

Now healthy, Leigh leads the OVC with a 3-0 record, a 1.06 ERA and an average of 14.8 strikeouts per nine innings. He has allowed 11 hits and struck out 28 in 17 innings.

"He's thrown brilliant for us. Every time out he's gotten better," Hogan said. "It isn't surprising. ... I was worried about maybe a flareup, but he hasn't had any problems.

"He's been a real shot in the arm for us."

There has also been a downside to the pitching staff so far, primarily the bullpen as Southeast hurlers have had problems in late innings.

While freshman Brad LaBruyere from Cape Girardeau Central High School and junior college transfer Jake Kemper were strong in nailing down victories at Memphis, Hogan still has concerns about late-inning situations.

"We still haven't solidified that [late innings]. Look at several of our losses, we were right there late but let things get away," Hogan said. "It's tough to pitch well for seven, eight innings and then squander the lead."

Also on the negative side, Southeast is batting just .248 as a team, although Hogan expects that to pick up.

Juco transfers Justin Wheeler and Tyrell Cummings have paced the offense so far.

Wheeler leads the Redhawks with a .362 average -- ninth in the OVC -- along with three home runs and 15 RBIs.

Cummings, hitting .296, is tied for the OVC lead with five homers, while ranking among the top five in doubles (six) and RBIs (18).

Sophomore catcher Jim Klocke (.316) joins Wheeler as Southeast's only .300 hitters.

Defensively, the Redhawks have been strong. They have committed an OVC-low 14 errors while fielding a league-best .970.

Tech leads the conference with a .346 batting average and has belted a league-best 24 homers.

Evan Webb is the OVC's top hitter at .467, while Chris King (.430) is third and Jake New (.413) fourth. King leads the league with 25 RBIs.

Sean Reilly, batting .356, is tied for first in the OVC in homers with five and is second in RBIs with 23.

The Eagles' top pitcher has been Jake Edwards (2-0, 2.05 ERA).

"It should be an excellent series," Hogan said. "It's only three games of 27 [in the conference], but it would be great to get off to a good start."