Southeast Missouri (25-16, 9-5 OVC) at Morehead State (22-12, 3-5 OVC)
Southeast Missouri (25-16, 9-5 OVC) at Eastern Kentucky (25-14, 7-1 OVC)
 
Dates: Apr. 21 at Morehead State/Apr. 22 at Eastern Kentucky
First Pitch: 11 a.m., CT (DH)/12 p.m., CT (DH)
Location: Morehead, Ky./Richmond, Ky.
Series Records: SEMO leads, 57-21/SEMO leads, 37-33
Head Coaches: Mark Redburn (249-330 overall; 83-103 at SEMO; 39-48 OVC). David Williams (330-312-1 overall; 151-177-1 at MOR). Jane Worthington (715-659 overall; 715-659 at EKU).

Media Coverage
Video: OVC Digital Network (Saturday)
Live Stats: MSUEagles.com | EKUSports.com
Southeast Missouri Notes

Redhawks Head to Kentucky
Southeast Missouri (25-16, 9-5) travels to Morehead State (22-12, 3-5) and Eastern Kentucky (25-14, 7-1) for its final Ohio Valley Conference road games this weekend. The Redhawks face the Eagles in a 11 a.m., CT, doubleheader Saturday and take on the Colonels in a Noon, CT, twin bill Sunday. 

Follow the Redhawks
Video for all four games this weekend can be accessed online at the OVC Digital Network. Live stats are available at MSUEagles.com and EKUSports.com. Twitter updates provided @SEMOsoftball. 

Series History
Southeast leads its all-time series against Morehead State, 57-21. The Redhawks are 24-12 all-time in Morehead. Southeast last won there in 2011 when it swept the Eagles, 14-7, 4-3. The Redhawks also lead their all-time series with Eastern Kentucky, 37-33. Southeast won three of its last five meetings against the Colonels. 

Where They Stand
The Redhawks enter the weekend at fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a 9-5 league mark. Morehead State is ninth with a 3-7 conference record and Eastern Kentucky is presently second at 7-1 behind league leader Jacksonville State (11-1). The Colonels are 10-2 in Richmond this season.

Countdown to 250
Mark Redburn is one win away from getting 250 in his career as a head coach. Redburn is 249-330 all-time in his 14-year head coaching tenure. That record includes an 83-103 mark as the Redhawks head coach.

25 Wins
Southeast is 25-16 through 41 games this season. The Redhawks and Eastern Kentucky have the second-most overall wins in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Eastern Illinois (28). Southeast's nine OVC victories are second-most behind league leader Jacksonville State (11). The 25 wins are the most in a season under Mark Redburn during his nine years as an NCAA Division I head coach.

30 in Sight
The Redhawks are five wins away from reaching 30 this year with 10 games remaining on their regular-season schedule. The last time Southeast won 30 games was also the last time it finished a season with a winning record. Southeast went 31-30 overall and placed fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference at 17-12 in 2011. The Redhawks have won 30 or more games a total of 15 seasons during their program's history.

Final Road Stretch
Southeast plays away from home for its next six games, its final road stretch of the season. After this weekend's doubleheaders at Morehead State (Apr. 21) and Eastern Kentucky (Apr. 22), the Redhawks visit Saint Louis (Apr. 25). 

Bandy Delivers Walk-Off Hit
Second baseman Parker Bandy delivered a walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Redhawks a 1-0 victory over UT Martin (Apr. 17). Bandy's game-winning hit to center helped Southeast split a doubleheader with the Skyhawks. She went 3-for-4, matching a season-high three hits in that contest.

Conference Race
Second-place Eastern Kentucky is the last team the Redhawks face that ranks ahead of them in the Ohio Valley Conference standings. Southeast is presently 4-4 against the five teams in front of it in this year's conference race. The Redhawks went 1-1 against league-leader Jacksonville State, 0-2 against Eastern Illinois, 2-0 against SIU Edwardsville and 1-1 against Austin Peay.

Major Defensive Improvement
In 2017, Southeast committed a total of 59 errors and finished eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference with a .960 fielding percentage. Through 41 games this season, the Redhawks have been charged with just 34 errors and stand tied for second in the league in fielding percentage (.969). If the season were to end today, the Redhawks 34 errors would be the lowest committed in a season by any Southeast softball team.

Looking Ahead to Eastern Kentucky
A day after facing Morehead State, the Redhawks will square off against a tough Eastern Kentucky team. EKU is presently second in the Ohio Valley Conference behind Jacksonville State with a 7-1 league mark. The Colonels have won three in a row and hold a 10-2 record at home this season. As a team, EKU leads the nation in home runs per game (1.36). The Colonels lead the OVC in slugging percentage (.495), runs scored (211), RBI (199), home runs (53) and total bases (495). Paige Murphy is EKU's top offensive threat, hitting .435 with 41 runs, 37 RBI and 13 home runs this year.

Team Single-Season Rankings
The 2018 Southeast softball team currently ranks among the school's top 10 single-season leaders in nine different categories. The Redhawks are among the program's top 10 teams in fewest errors (1st, 34), fielding percentage (2nd, .969), strikeouts looking (t2nd, 69), slugging percentage (3rd, .439), on-base percentage (t5th, .356), opponent batting average (5th, .274), saves (t7th, 4), home runs (t8th, 32) and strikeouts (10th, 202).

100 Hits for Anderson
Sophomore center fielder Rachel Anderson got her 100th career hit on a single in the first inning of game one at Eastern Illinois (Apr. 11). Anderson leads the team with 41 hits, six triples and seven stolen bases. She is also third in doubles (5) and second in batting average (.357).

Anderson Second in Career Triples
Sophomore center fielder Rachel Anderson hit her team-high sixth triple of the season vs. SIU Edwardsville (Apr. 8). As a result, Anderson moved into second all-time in career triples at Southeast. She ranks first in the Ohio Valley Conference and fifth in the nation in triples. Anderson presently has 14 triples in her career. Kathy Rediger (1981-84) holds the school's all-time career triples record with 18. As a team, Southeast is sixth in the nation in triples per game (0.39).

100 Games Played
Catcher Abby Tillotson played in her 100th career game as a Redhawk during game two of Southeast's doubleheader at Eastern Illinois (Apr. 11). Tillotson has played in 104 games and made 85 starts for the Redhawks. She is currently Southeast's fourth-leading hitter with a .302 average. Tillotson is second on the team in home runs (6) and RBI (29), as well.

Home Run Count
Southeast ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference with 32 home runs as one of three teams in the league with 30 or more this year. A total of 10 different Redhawks have homered through 41 games in 2018. Sarah Messex leads the team with seven home runs, while Abby Tillotson and Addison Barnouski follow with six apiece.

Five Over 100
Southeast has five active players who have played over 100 games in their careers. Claire Wernig has seen action in 144 games, Riley Hayes has played in 142, Sarah Messex has participated in 140, Darby Pruett has played in 139 and Abby Tillotson has logged 104 games played. Of that group, Messex is the only one who has started every game of her career.

Four-Hit Games
Infielders Sarah Messex and Darby Pruett each went 4-for-4 in Southeast's doubleheader sweep of Murray State (Apr. 8), becoming the team's first players to get four hits in a game this season. Messex finished game one at 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Pruett went 4-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and four RBI. The four hits were a career-high for both Messex and Pruett. Claire Wernig was the last Redhawk to get four hits in a game vs. Austin Peay on Apr. 30, 2016.

Thogmartin Strong in the Circle
Haley Thogmartin recorded 25 strikeouts in 25.2 innings over her last five Ohio Valley Conference starts. Thogmartin also went 2-1 in that stretch. Her eight strikeouts against SIU Edwardsville (Apr. 13) marked a career-high. 

What a Relief
Freshman pitcher Rachel Rook leads the Ohio Valley Conference in games finished (14) and games in relief (16). Rook has not allowed a run in seven-straight relief appearances. She also did not give up a hit in six-straight innings out of the bullpen.

Arellanes Returns
Right fielder Mykaela Arellanes returned in Southeast's doubleheader against UT Martin (Apr. 17). Arellanes missed nine games with a concussion. She doubled and scored the winning run on a single by Parker Bandy to give the Redhawks a 1-0 victory in the bottom of the eighth inning of game two.

Everyday Starters
A total of three Redhawks have started all 41 games this season. Rachel Anderson started every contest in center field, Ashley Ellis started every game at first base and Sarah Messex started every contest at short. 
 
On Target
Madeline Krumrey leads the Redhawks with 85 strikeouts through 22 games and 21 starts this season. Krumrey is on pace to reach 100 strikeouts in a season for the first time in her career. She fell four strikeouts shy of that mark in 2017 and six strikeouts short of 100 as a freshman in 2015. Krumrey has struck out six or more in each of her last three starts.