Women's basketball team taps Hungary for guard

Southeast Missouri State University's latest women's basketball recruit will be playing a long way from home.

Coach B.J. Smith announced Monday that Szandra Pal, a native of Budapest, Hungary, has signed a national letter of intent with the Redhawks. The 5-foot-8 guard will be a freshman at Southeast.

Pal has been a member of the Hungarian Junior National Team since 2001, capturing a bronze medal at the 2004 Youth European Championships.

"We're very happy to sign her," Smith said. "She's had a lot of international experience and played at a very high level. She has tremendous upside."

"She's very skilled, a true point guard, and a good athlete. We think she can help us right away. I know her commitment level is very good."

Pal comes from an athletic family as her mother was a two-time world silver medalist in kayaking, while her father was a national team member in the same sport. Smith said he learned of Pal through a contact overseas.

"She wanted to play basketball over here and we're glad she chose us," Smith said. "We're very fortunate to get her."

Smith said he expects to sign up to three more players in the coming weeks.

The Redhawks signed two players during last fall's early period: Rachel Blunt, a 6-foot senior forward at Dexter High School; and Joiceline Thesing, a 6-6 center from Labette (Kan.) Community College.

On the men's side, Southeast has not yet landed any players during the late period, but Webster Groves High School 6-4 senior forward Eric Jones is expected to sign in the next few days. Overall, the Redhawks expect to sign at least four players in the next several weeks.

Southeast signed one player during the early fall period, 6-foot-7 forward Tyrell Curry from State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo.

Baseball at ASU tonight

Southeast's baseball team will try to avenge a recent home shutout loss to Arkansas State when the squads hook up at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Jonesboro, Ark.

The March 29 game at Capaha Field was scoreless through six innings, but ASU exploded late to post a 9-0 victory.

ASU is having a strong season, with a 24-12 overall record and a 5-4 Sun Belt Conference mark.

Southeast has struggled at 13-21 overall and 4-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Redhawks resume OVC play this weekend with a three-game home series against Eastern Illinois. It will be River Eagle Distributing Day during Saturday's 1 p.m. doubleheader, with free food and beverages provided.

Freshman left-hander Casey Johnson (1-3, 6-45 earned-run average) will start tonight. Johnson was also the starter against ASU in the earlier meeting, and he suffered the loss despite allowing just five hits and one run in 6 1/3 innings.

"Casey has pitched some good games for us, and he pitched very well against Arkansas State the last time," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

ASU has a .302 batting average and a 3.80 earned-run average. Southeast is hitting .264, and has a 5.07 ERA.

Robinson back in Portland

Former Southeast baseball star Kerry Robinson, released at the end of spring training by the New York Mets, is back with the San Diego Padres organization, where he spent all of last season.

Robinson, an outfielder, had played in 11 games through Sunday for the Portland Beavers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He was batting .265 with nine runs scored, one triple, one double, two runs batted in and five stolen bases in six attempts. He leads the Beavers in runs scored and steals.

Robinson, a St. Louis native who has spent parts of six seasons in the major leagues, played for the Cardinals from 2001 through 2003, then was traded to San Diego last season. He hit .293 for the Padres but received just 92 at-bats as he spent part of the season with Portland. He left the Padres in hope of a better opportunity and signed with New York.