Western Kentucky Holiday Inn Spring Fling Tournament

Game Information
Dates: Friday-Sunday, February 26-28, 2016
Location: Bowling Green, Ky.
Arena: WKU Softball Complex
Southeast Missouri Notes

Tournament Schedule
Friday, February 26 - Southeast Missouri (1-4) vs. Western Carolina (8-2), 11:45 a.m., CT | Live Stats
Friday, February 26 - Southeast MIssouri vs. Ball State (4-6), 4:15 p.m., CT | Live Stats
Saturday, February 27 - Southeast Missouri vs. Valparaiso (0-5), 4:15 p.m., CT | Live Stats
Sunday, February 28 - Southeast Missouri at Western Kentucky (5-3), 11:45 a.m., CT | Live Stats

Redhawks Head to Holiday Inn Spring Fling
Southeast Missouri (1-4) plays four games at the Holiday Inn Spring Fling this weekend. This year's event, which is hosted by Western Kentucky, will run from Friday-Sunday, Feb. 26-28.

Follow the Redhawks
Live stats for Southeast's softball games at the Holiday Inn Spring Fling can be accessed online at WKUSports.com.

Tournament Play
Southeast returns to action fresh off a 12-day break. The Redhawks are 1-4 in tournament play this season after opening the year at the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama (Feb. 12-14). Southeast faced three teams that made last season's NCAA Tournament (Louisiana, Central Arkansas, South Alabama) during opening weekend. Louisiana (11th) and South Alabama (25th) were both ranked when they played Southeast. Louisiana jumped to sixth, while South Alabama is receiving votes in this week's USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top-25 Poll.

Spring Fling Field
Southeast joins Western Carolina (8-2), Ball State (4-6), Valparaiso (0-5) and host Western Kentucky (5-3) at this year's Holiday Inn Spring Fling. The event will be played at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Southeast faces Western Carolina for the first time in 2016. Meanwhile, the Redhawks are 2-2 against Ball State, 0-4 against Valparaiso and 1-6 against Western Kentucky.

Road Stretch
The Redhawks play their first 13 games of the 2016 season outside of Cape Girardeau. After this weekend's tournament, Southeast heads two hours north to St. Louis for the All-Missouri Cancer Classic (Mar. 5-6). The Redhawks will play Missouri State, Northern Illinois, UMKC and host Saint Louis at that event. Southeast is scheduled to play at home for the first time when it hosts the Southeast Games on Mar. 12-13.

First Win
Southeast picked up its first win of the season when it pounded out 14 hits en route to a 10-7 victory over Houston Baptist at the Sand Dollar Classic on Feb. 13. The Redhawks held a 5-0 lead before the Huskies pulled to within a run in the top of the third inning. Southeast then fought off a three-run seventh-inning by HBU to hang on for the win. The top four hitters in Southeast's lineup combined for eight hits, seven runs and four RBIs in that game. Danielle Turner went 2-for-4 with two runs, one RBI and her first career home run. Claire Wernig went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Savannah Carpenter finished at 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs and Haylee Krack was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Streak of Starts
Senior infielder Savannah Carpenter has started 72 consecutive games. Carpenter started 45 games at third base, 26 at first base and one as designated player during that stretch. She made all five of her starts at first base this season. The last time Carpenter was out of the starting lineup was vs. Austin Peay on Mar. 29, 2014.

Krack Returns
After missing all of last season due to an ACL injury, Haylee Krack made her return as Southeast's starting third baseman at the Sand Dollar Classic (Feb. 12-14). Krack hit .417 (5-for-12) with two runs scored, a double, home run and two RBIs in five starts during the Redhawks opening weekend. Krack's opening day start against Louisiana Tech (Feb. 12) was her first start at third base since May 4, 2014 (vs. Murray State). She enters the weekend as Southeast's second-leading hitter.

Starting Debuts
Six different players, including Harli Wheeler (2B), Sarah Messex (SS), Brittany Stevens (CF), Danielle Turner (DP), Mackenzie Hoelting (P) and Haley Thogmartin (P) made their first career starts in a Redhawk uniform at the Sand Dollar Classic (Feb. 12-14). Wheeler started all five games at second base and Stevens, a freshman, made each of her first five starts in the outfield. Turner started four contests at designated player, while Thogmartin picked up her first career win in the circle after striking out seven in 6.1 innings against Houston Baptist (Feb. 13). Eight of Southeast's 10 newcomers saw action for the first time in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Wheeler Paves the Way
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M transfer Harli Wheeler is Southeast's leading hitter after five games this season. Wheeler hit .455 (5-for-11) with three runs scored and a pair of doubles at the Sand Dollar Classic (Feb. 12-14). She posted multiple hits in two starts, with a season-high three during the Redhawks 10-7 win over Houston Baptist (Feb. 13). Wheeler was a two-year starter at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M prior to Southeast.

Krumrey Clears 100 Strikeouts
Pitcher Madeline Krumrey, Southeast's only returning All-Ohio Valley Conference player in 2016, surpassed 100 career strikeouts when she recorded five against Central Arkansas (Feb. 14). Krumrey, who led the Redhawks with 94 strikeouts as a freshman last season, recorded her 100th career K when she struck out Kate Myers in the fourth inning. She currently has 102 strikeouts in her career.

Pitching Depth
Southeast's pitching staff goes five deep this season with the return of Madeline Krumrey and Aubrey Denno, and addition of newcomers Haley Thogmartin, Mackenzie Hoelting and Kelsey Ihns. All five pitched during the Sand Dollar Classic (Feb. 12-14). Thogmartin leads the Redhawks with 10 strikeouts in 9.2 innings and was credited with the team's only win so far. Hoelting is tied for first on the team with Thogmartin in appearances as each pitched three games. Meanwhile, Krumrey (2), Thogmartin (2) and Hoelting (1) have at least one start. This year marks the first Southeast has used five pitchers in a season since 2012 (Alora Marble, Shea Cothren, Taylor Cowan, Lindsey Patterson, Stefanie Barnes).

Among OVC Leaders
Harli Wheeler, Savannah Carpenter and Haylee Krack rank among Ohio Valley Conference leaders this young season. Wheeler is fourth in batting average (.455) and on-base percentage (.538), while Krack is second in slugging percentage (.750) and fifth in on-base percentage (.533). Carpenter is third in slugging percentage (.714).

Home Run Club
Four Redhawks, including Haylee Krack, Savannah Carpenter, Danielle Turner and Darby Pruett hit a home run this season. Pruett and Turner each homered in Southeast's win over Houston Baptist (Feb. 13), while Krack homered against Central Arkansas (Feb. 14) and Carpenter homered vs. South Alabama (Feb. 14). For Turner, it was her first career home run at Southeast. The Redhawks are presently tied for fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference in home runs this year.

Ten to Go
The Redhawks need just 10 more wins to reach 1,000 in their softball history. Southeast has compiled 990 wins since its softball program began in 1977. Redhawk teams have compiled 30 or more wins in a total of 15 seasons between the NCAA Division I and Division II ranks combined.

Road to 200
Southeast head coach Mark Redburn is 14 wins away from reaching 200 in his career. Redburn is currently 186-258 in 12 years as a head coach. He compiled 20 wins at Southeast (2015-present), 90 at Evansville (2010-2014), 49 at Jefferson College (2005-2006) and 27 at St. Charles Community College (2002-2004).

Team 40
The 2016 club marks the 40th team in Southeast softball history. Southeast is 990-824-3 all-time since the program started in 1977. The Redhawks are in their 25th season at the NCAA Division I level and own a 631-601-2 mark during that era. Southeast has five Ohio Valley Conference regular-season titles (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999), five OVC Tournament crowns (1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999) and one NCAA Tournament appearance (1999) in its Division I tenure.

Redburn in Second Year
Southeast is in its second year under the direction of head coach Mark Redburn. The Redhawks increased their Ohio Valley Conference win total by a +9 margin and advanced to the OVC Tournament for the first time since 2011 during Redburn's debut a year ago. Southeast finished the 2015 season at 19-27 overall and 12-12 in the OVC after going just 11-34 overall and 3-20 in league play the year before.

On Deck
The Redhawks will compete in the All-Missouri Cancer Classic on Mar. 5-6 in St. Louis. Southeast, Missouri State, Northern Illinois, UMKC and host Saint Louis are part of this year's event.