Otahks look to soften blow of 13-25 season

Southeast Missouri State University's softball team can make up for its first losing season under coach Lana Richmond in just one weekend.

The fifth-seeded Otahkians (13-25) play today in the six-team Ohio Valley Conference Tournament in Richmond, Ky., facing fourth-seeded Austin Peay (19-33-1) at 10 a.m.

A win would put Southeast into a noon game today against top-seeded and host Eastern Kentucky. A loss would send the Otahkians into a 4 p.m. consolation bracket game.

Southeast will have its first losing record in 20 years under Richmond, but she is ready to turn the page for a new season starting today.

"Our goal was to get into the tournament and it's a brand new season once you get there," she said. "I really like our chances going in."

The optimism is based on several factors, including the Otahkians' narrow losses against some of the league's top teams this season. Southeast was 9-12 in OVC games but seven of the defeats were by one run.

Making up for close losses

Two of Southeast's three losses to Eastern Kentucky were by one run. Against second-seeded Tennessee Tech, the Otahkians went 1-2 and one of the defeats was by one run.

"We were right there with the top two teams," Richmond said. "Even when we were struggling, we were playing just about everybody close, and at the end of the year we really started playing better."

The Otahkians' pitching staff also has rounded into shape, with freshman Kelly Birk (6-10, 2.70 earned-run average) and senior Kristen King (3-9, 2.67) coming on late in the year.

"Kelly has pitched well the last three weeks and Kristen has also started to show that," Richmond said. "We have two pitchers ready for the tournament."

The Otahkians also welcome back players who have missed recent action with injuries, including Katie Cerneka (.323) and Brooke Nett (.307), the squad's top two hitters. Also batting better than .300 is Jennifer Cobin (.302).

Southeast took two of three from Austin Peay this year, winning 3-2 and 4-1 while losing 6-5. The Governors went 8-10-1 in OVC play to finish fourth, just ahead of the Otahkians.

While regular-season champion Eastern Kentucky (30-11, 16-2) and Tennessee Tech (34-21, 17-3) earned first-round byes, today's other opening-round contest pits third-seeded Tennessee-Martin (24-31, 12-7) against sixth-seeded Eastern Illinois (17-22, 7-13).

The winner's bracket final will be at noon Saturday, with the championship game at noon Sunday.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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