Southeast Missouri (13-20, 6-8 OVC) vs. Eastern Illinois (15-15, 6-6 OVC)

Game Information

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012
First Pitch: 3 p.m., CT (DH)
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Site: Southeast Softball Complex
Head Coaches: Lana Richmond (846-633-2 overall, 268-172 OVC, 30th Season); Kim Schuette (182-166-1 overall, Seventh Season)

Media Coverage

Live Stats: GoSoutheast.com

 

Redhawk Softball Notebook

 

Wear Pink to Wednesday's Doubleheader Against Eastern Illinois

Wednesday's doubleheader against Eastern Illinois is Pink Up Day. The Southeast Missouri softball team will wear pink uniforms in support of its Dig for Life partnership with Saint Francis Medical Center. Fans are encouraged to show support for the fight against breast cancer by wearing pink to the games. Fans will also receive free pink foam noodles. Click Here for more information about the Dig for Life campaign.

Scouting the Panthers
Eastern Illinois went 3-3 last week after splitting a doubleheader with Butler (Mar. 27), losing at home to SIU Edwardsville (Mar. 29) and winning a series against Murray State (Mar. 31-Apr. 1). The Panthers enter Wednesday's twin bill with a Ohio Valley Conference-best 2.60 ERA. EIU pitchers have also limited opponents to a .246 batting average which rates second-best in the league. Stephanie Maday is the ace of the staff. Maday is 9-8 in 20 appearances. She recorded 107 strikeouts in 113.1 innings of work this season. Maday caught a OVC-high 33 hitters looking on strikes. Offensively, the Panthers are led by Bailey O'Dell. O'Dell ranks third in the conference with a .390 batting average.

Countdown to 850
Lana Richmond is approaching 850 career wins in her 30th season as Southeast's head coach. Richmond, who has coached in a total of 1,481 games, holds an overall record of 846-633-2. She has also won 268 Ohio Valley Conference games, leading the Redhawks to OVC Tournament titles in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999, and OVC regular-season crowns in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. Richmond currently ranks 14th in victories among all NCAA Division I head softball coaches.
 
Close Call
Seven of Southeast's eight conference losses have been by no more than two runs. The Redhawks return home after losing a three-game series at Tennessee Tech last weekend.

Marble Takes Charge
Sophomore Alora Marble continues to lead Southeast's pitching staff this season. Marble is 7-9 with a team-best 3.01 ERA in 21 appearances and 15 starts. She leads the Redhawks in complete games (11), strikeouts (53) and innings (111.2).
 
RBI Machines
Senior shortstop Renee Kertz is on the verge of cracking Southeast's top-five career leaders in runs batted in. Kertz, who is tied for second on the team with 19 RBI this season, has a total of 106 in her career. She needs two more to tie Jenny Oermann (108, 1996-99) for the fifth-place spot. Michelle Summers (2005-08) holds Southeast's all-time career RBI record with 132. Kertz is also fourth in career walks (73) at Southeast. Freshman Lindsey Patterson leads the team with 20 RBI, while Taylor Cowan shares the second-place spot with Kertz. Patterson, Kertz and Cowan have combined for 58 of the Redhawks 117 RBI this year.
 
Southeast vs. Eastern Illinois in 2011
Southeast won each of its last three meetings against Eastern Illinois in 2011. The Redhawks beat EIU, 8-4, in Cape Girardeau before eliminating the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season champion and top-seeded Panthers with 4-0 and 9-1 victories at the league's postseason tournament.

There's No Place Like Home
The Redhawks open a season-long seven-game homestand against Eastern Illinois Wednesday. Jacksonville State (Apr. 6-7) and Middle Tennessee (Apr. 11) also visit the Southeast Softball Complex during that stretch. The Redhawks are 4-2 at home in 2012.