Southeast Missouri (10-6, 3-0 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky (7-9, 1-2 OVC)
Friday, March 14 - Sunday, March 16
2, 1, 12 p.m., CDT
Richmond, Ky.
Turkey Hughes Field
Head Coaches
Steve Bieser: 36-39, second season
Jason Stein: sixth season
Radio: ESPN 1220 AM
Play-by-Play: Erik Sean
Audio Webcast: ESPN1220.com
Live Stats: EKUSports.com
Twitter Updates: @SEMObaseball, @GoSoutheast
Game Notes: Southeast Missouri
 
Duel with the Colonels
Ohio Valley Conference play will continue as the Redhawks make the long haul to Richmond, Ky. for a showdown with the Eastern Kentucky Colonels Friday through Sunday. After week one of OVC play, the Redhawks are sporting a perfect 3-0 record. EKU avoided a sweep last weekend against Tennessee Tech and currently sit at 1-2. The three-game series can be heard on ESPN 1220 AM.
 
Let's Review
Southeast Missouri is coming off a three-game sweep of Ohio Valley Conference foe Belmont in the opening weekend of OVC play. The Redhawks were firing on all cylinders on the weekend as the offense, pitching, and defense were all spectacular in the conference opener. As a team, the Redhawks hit .337 and out-scored the Bruins 24-4 on the weekend. The pitching staff was also very crisp as only six Redhawk pitchers were used, combining for a 1.33 ERA and performed a shutout in game three. Southeast held batters to a .157 batting average. Defensively, Southeast made a number of highlight reel plays, taking away hits, and most likely runs, from Belmont. Southeast committed three errors but forced the Bruins to make eight in the series. The Redhawks followed up a stellar weekend with a one-run victory over in-state rival Missouri State Tuesday. The Redhawks found themselves down 4-0 but came from behind to defeat the Bears 6-5. Andy Lack hit his first collegiate home run and hit a successful RBI squeeze bunt in the game.
 
Ranked BA
As of March 9, the Redhawks' .303 team batting average ranked 25th nationally. After the Missouri State game, the team batting average fell to .298. On March 2, they ranked 42nd in the nation when they had a .295 average. Southeast also ranked 35th in hits (154) prior to Tuesday's game.
 
On the Road Again
11 of the Redhawks' 16 games this season have been on the road. Southeast is 5-6 in road matches thus far. Rain, cold, snow and ice have been to blame for the lack of home games this season. While at home, the Redhawks are sporting a perfect 5-0 record. Southeast has moved four regularly scheduled home games to opposing locations and cancelled a two-game midweek series. The Redhawks will return home for four games next week before hitting the road once again for four-straight games.
 
OVC Co-Player of the Week
Senior Derek Gibson was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Week Monday. In the OVC-opening series sweep of Belmont, Gibson hit .636 with six RBI. Gibson scored four runs on the weekend as he had seven hits including a double and a triple. Gibson was 3-for-4 with two RBI in game two before going 3-for-4 again in game three with four RBI and a run scored. He also scored two runs in game one with a single hit. Gibson was the designated hitter in all three games as well as saw a little playing time in left field in game three. Gibson shares the honor with Skyler Geissinger from SIUE.
 
Solid OVC Start
After week one of Ohio Valley Conference play, the Redhawks lead the league in conference batting (.337 batting average) as well as pitching (1.33 ERA). Derek Gibson's .636 average from the weekend leads the league in OVC games. Overall, the Redhawk offense ranks second (.298) and the pitching staff sits second also with an ERA of 3.65 this season; both an improvement after last week. The Redhawks are tied for first in the stolen bases category with 23 this season. The Redhawks are sporting a 10.06 hits per game average and average 6.40 runs a game.
 
The Pen is Mightier Once Again
After a rough patch last week at Arkansas State and Memphis, the Redhawk bullpen was once again back to its old tricks against Belmont as three Redhawk relievers did not give up a single run to the Belmont Bruins. In fact, in 7.1 innings out of the pen, the Redhawks only gave up two hits this past weekend and all three relievers earned a save. Against Missouri State, Southeast used six pitchers out of the bullpen. Only two runs were scored off Redhawk relief pitchers in the contest.
 
What's on Tap?
Southeast will come home for four games, first a showdown with the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday followed by a weekend series with the Morehead State Eagles while the Redhawks are on Spring Break.