SE OFFENSE SPRINGS TO LIFE

Just a few short weeks ago, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team was struggling along with a batting average in the .240 range.

But look at the Indians' offense now. Thanks to a recent hot streak, they're hitting at a .308 clip -- and, not coincidentally, Southeast has surged to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

"Our offense has really come alive the last several weeks," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's really been exciting to see. We're hitting the ball up and down the lineup and everybody has really settled into their roles."

Southeast's pitching has also been strong in recent weeks to complement the big offense. The result has been six consecutive OVC victories by the Indians and eight wins in their last nine league games.

Now, with just two OVC weekends left in the regular season, the Indians -- who finished second in the league last year and won the OVC Tournament -- are in first place, percentage points ahead of Eastern Illinois (14-7).

The Indians, 23-22 overall heading into tonight's 6 o'clock non-conference game at Missouri, are 12-5 in OVC play.

The top six teams in the final league standings qualify for the OVC Tournament and the champion hosts the tourney -- with a catch.

Only teams whose fields have lights are eligible to host the tournament and just four OVC squads have lights: Southeast, Austin Peay, Middle Tennessee and Tennessee Tech.

Southeast is basically battling Austin Peay (11-6) for the right to host the league tourney.

The Indians have a three-game series at Murray State this weekend and then close out OVC play with a three-game home series against Tennessee Tech the following weekend.

Eastern Illinois has just one OVC series left -- this weekend at home against last-place Tennessee-Martin, so the Panthers figure to have a good chance at closing strong.

Austin Peay hosts Morehead State this weekend and closes at Murray State the following weekend.

"We've put ourselves in a good position, but things are far from being decided," said Hogan. "We just have to try and continue to take care of our own business."

The Indians certainly did that over the weekend, demolishing host Morehead State. Southeast won the three games by a combined 41-5.

Six players are now hitting above .300 for the Indians.

Junior center fielder Jeremy Johnson, the OVC's leading hitter, pushed his average to .423. with a big weekend.

Senior shortstop Steve Lowe, who went 7-for-8 over the weekend, and freshman third baseman Clemente Bonilla Jr. are both batting .344. Bonilla set the school's single-season walks record over the weekend and now has 44.

Senior Brad Hoehner, who splits time at catcher with Dan Berry and has only recently started to see considerable playing time, has surged to .340 and he's got 12 RBIs in just 50 at-bats.

Also above .300 are junior right fielder Phil Warren (.336) and senior second baseman Kyle Yount (.301).