Southeast Missouri State baseball team to host perennial power Jacksonville State

One of the Ohio Valley Conference's hottest and most tradition-rich baseball teams that has surged into a first-place OVC tie will pay a visit to Capaha Field this weekend.

Southeast Missouri State hosts Jacksonville State in a three-game series beginning at 5 p.m. today.

"It's getting late in the season so every conference series is very important," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said. "It's a big series."

JSU (22-19, 14-4) had its nine-game OVC winning streak snapped in its most recent conference outing, Sunday's 4-0 loss to Tennessee Tech. It marked the first time the Gamecocks have been shut out since a 5-0 home loss to Alabama on March 26, 2008, a span of 306 games.

The perennial OVC powerhouse Gamecocks still retained their hold on the top spot in the 11-team conference, along with Belmont, after handing Tech its first OVC series loss this year.

Southeast (20-22, 12-9) had its string of three straight OVC series wins snapped last weekend at Eastern Illinois when the Redhawks dropped two of three. They have lost four of their last five games overall.

The Redhawks remained fifth in the OVC. They are just percentage points ahead of sixth-place Eastern Kentucky but are two games on the loss side clear of seventh-place Morehead State, which is important because the top six finishers qualify for the conference tournament.

Southeast is riding a record streak of 18 straight OVC tournament appearances.

"We've put ourselves in a good position but we have to finish strong," said Bieser, whose squad has won eight of its last 12 league games.

Southeast will face a rugged challenge from JSU, which has compiled the best record in OVC play since joining the conference in 2004. The Gamecocks have won five OVC titles under 12th-year coach Jim Case.

The Gamecocks, a young squad that features just five seniors, have lost three straight games despite their conference surge. JSU is coming off two close nonleague losses to Sun Belt Conference power South Alabama.

JSU has not compiled overwhelming statistics, but the Gamecocks have a knack for winning close games.

The Gamecocks are 10-2 in OVC contests decided by three runs or less, including eight straight victories in those types of games. The Gamecocks are 6-1 in OVC contests decided by one run.

The Gamecocks' 262 batting average ranks only 10th in the OVC although their 4.71 ERA is fourth.

Griff Gordon and Michael Bishop lead the Gamecocks with averages of .350 and .347, respectively.

Coty Blanchard, who also plays quarterback for the JSU football team, is hitting .297 with four homers and 27 RBIs.

Taylor Shields has been JSU's top starting pitcher with a 6-2 record and a 3.60 ERA.

JSU has one of the OVC's elite closers in Travis Stout, whose 12 saves are tied for the fourth-most in OVC single-season history. He is 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA.

Youth competition

Southeast will host a free Major League Baseball Pitch, Hit & Run competition at 10 a.m. Saturday at Capaha Field. Southeast players and coaches will be on hand to help administer the competition for area youngsters.

Boys and girls will be divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14. For more information, contact Nate Saverino at nsaverino@semo.edu