INDIANS HAUL BATS TO AUSTIN PEAY

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team, after winning a pair of lopsided non-league games Wednesday, will jump back into Ohio Valley Conference action this weekend.

The Indians and Austin Peay will square off in a key three-game series in Clarksville, Tenn. The teams will have a 2 p.m. doubleheader today and a 2 p.m. single game Sunday.

Southeast routed McKendree 13-1 and Missouri Baptist 8-0 Wednesday as tuneups for this weekend's series.

The Indians are 17-12 overall and 6-6 in OVC play, which puts them fifth in the nine-team league. Austin Peay is tied for sixth in the OVC at 5-7, just one game behind the Indians.

"It's a big series for us, but all the conference games are huge," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan.

Eastern Illinois leads the OVC at 6-2 while Tennessee Tech is second at 8-4 and Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State are tied for third at 5-4.

Southeast continues to have five regulars batting over .300, led by Kyle Yount at .386. Others are Jeff Bourbon (.370), Robert Kern (.365), Steve Lowe (.329) and Charlie Marino (.314).

Marino leads the team in home runs with 10 and runs batted in with 27. Kern is second in both categories with nine homers and 23 RBIs.

In the pitching department, Jason Swearingen (5-2, 3.18 earned-run average) and Ryan Spille (5-0, 2.29 ERA) have been the aces all season and will start today.

Softball team at home

Southeast's high-flying softball Otahkians will begin a big OVC homestand today by playing Tennessee Tech in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Parker Field.

The Otahkians will also be at home in the coming days for OVC doubleheaders against Tennessee State (Sunday, 2 p.m.) and Middle Tennessee (Monday, 2 p.m.).

Southeast, the defending OVC champion, is 19-5-1 overall and 2-0 in league play after sweeping Austin Peay Wednesday.

"Our defense, offense and pitching are all good right now and that's what you like to see in conference play," said Otahkian coach Lana Richmond.

Richmond recently picked up her 500th victory at Southeast. In her 16th season in charge of the Otahkians, Richmond has a 501-258-2 record.

Chris Shetley leads the Otahkians offensively with a .416 batting average. Also hitting above .300 are Kim Palmer (.387), Jenny Oermann (.357) and Michelle Frank (.323).

Palmer leads the way in homers with three and RBIs with 18.

In the pitching department, Debbie Schmelz (9-3, 1.42 ERA) and Christine Engelhardt (6-2, 2.69 ERA) have been the leaders.

Tennis squad victorious

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Southeast's women's tennis team rebounded from its first Ohio Valley Conference defeat, gaining a 6-3 OVC win Friday at Austin Peay.

The Otahkians improved to 4-4 overall and 2-1 in the OVC. Another OVC opponent awaits the Otahkians today at Middle Tennessee.

Southeast 6, Austin Peay 3

SINGLES

Izabela Slowikowska (SE) def. Susan Aurich 6-1, 6-0

Celeste Tomkins (AP) de. Thais Olive 6-0, 6-1

Vicky Wood (SE) def. Veronica Carr 6-4, 6-2

Brigitte Stotter (SE) def. Kim Laub 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4)

Michelle Gruber (SE) def. Kristi Laney (withdrew)

Callie Waynick (AP) def. Erin Reed 6-2, 6-2

DOUBLES

Slowikowska-Stotter (SE) def. Aurich-Carr 8-5

Wood-Gruber (SE) def. Tompkins-Laub 8-2

Laney-Waynick (AP) def. Olive-Reed 8-2