Southeast Missouri State baseball resumes OVC play vs. EKU

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team jumps back into Ohio Valley Conference play this weekend with its first OVC road series of the season.

Southeast visits Eastern Kentucky for a three-game set in Richmond, Ky. There will be a noon doubleheader Saturday and a noon contest Sunday.

The Redhawks, who recently completed a seven-game homestand, embark on a stretch of nine straight road contests.

"It's always a dogfight when we go there," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "Hopefully we can play well and have a good weekend."

The Redhawks (13-11, 1-1) and Colonels (7-18, 1-2) both picked up one win during their opening OVC series last weekend.

Southeast split at home against Morehead State. One game in the series was rained out. EKU dropped two of three at Eastern Illinois.

Neither squad is riding a wave of momentum, although the Redhawks are coming off Wednesday's 2-0 victory over NAIA opponent Mid-Continent. Five pitchers combined on a one-hitter in the win.

"We have to carry that win over to Saturday," said senior Brad LaBruyere, the winning hurler Wednesday.

Southeast went just 3-4 during its recent homestand and is only 6-9 following an impressive 7-2 start. EKU has lost 10 of its past 11 games.

"I'm sure they're frustrated. They haven't done as well as they hoped," Hogan said. "But I know they'll be a tough opponent."

EKU ranks seventh in the nine-team OVC with a .261 batting average. The Colonels are eighth in runs scored with 115.

The Colonels' offense is led by junior shortstop Richie Rodriguez with a .394 mark that is sixth in the league.

Junior left fielder Jacob Daniel is hitting .337 while pacing the Colonels with four home runs and 21 RBIs.

The Colonels are sixth in the conference with a 5.77 ERA. Their top starter has been senior Stephen Hefler, who is 2-3 with a 3.75 ERA.

"They've got some talented players, some guys who have been around for a while," Hogan said.

Southeast is third in the league with a .294 batting average, second in runs scored with 146 and first with a 3.74 ERA. The Redhawks also are tied for the lead with a .965 fielding percentage, while the Colonels are seventh at .955.

Junior second baseman Taylor Heon is hitting a team-high .358 for the Redhawks, followed by junior first baseman Trenton Moses (.356) and senior left fielder Michael Adamson (.337). Heon and Moses rank 12th and 13th in the OVC, respectively.

The Redhawks plan to go with their usual weekend starting rotation of seniors Jon Dicus (2-1, 2.79), Jordan Underwood (1-0, 2.88) and LaBruyere (3-0, 2.48), who missed his turn against Morehead because of the rainout.

Southeast boasts four of the league's top seven in ERA, led by senior reliever Logan Mahon. He is third at 1.50. LaBruyere is fourth, Dicus sixth and Underwood seventh.