Feb. 15, 2007

Official Southeast-Jackson State Game Notes
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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007) The Southeast Missouri State baseball Redhawks open up the 2007 baseball season on the road this weekend against Jackson State University. The Redhawks and Tigers will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday with game one beginning at 1 p.m. The two squads will wrap up the series on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. All three games will be played at Smith-Wills Stadium.

Asif Shah drove in three in the series finale against the Tigers last year.

SERIES HISTORY: Southeast swept Jackson State in a three-game series at Capaha Field last season. Right-handed pitcher Phillip Riley recorded a save in each game of a doubleheader against Jackson State on Feb. 25 in 7-5 and 8-7 victories for the Redhawks. The next day, Southeast captured a 9-5 victory and the series sweep. The squad was led by outfielder Asif Shah who was 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Southeast is 4-0 all-time against Jackson State.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS: Jackson State is 0-4 in the early stages of the 2007. The Tigers were swept in a three-game series against Centenary College (7-2, 13-6, 7-6) last weekend, and suffered a 21-7 defeat at the hands of Louisiana Tech on Wednesday. Last season, the Tigers led the nation in batting with a .359 team average, and they were also first in the country scoring 9.4 runs per game. However, their top two hitters from last season, shortstop Joaquin Rodriguez and outfielder Shundell Russaw, are not returning to the Tigers this season. Rodriguez and Russaw finished third (.457 BA) and fourth (.440) respectively in the nation among all NCAA Division I batters.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS: The Redhawks are coming off of their worst season since 1993 and the first back-to-back seasons under .500 since 1993-94. Despite a 23-33 record at the end of the season, the 2006 squad earned their 12th consecutive OVC Tournament berth. At the tournament in Paducah, Ky., Southeast won two games before being eliminated by Eastern Kentucky in a 14-10 thriller.

The Redhawks return 13 letterwinners from last season, but they are without three of their top pitchers from a year ago. They will rely heavily on an experienced group of seniors that includes First Team All-OVC second baseman Omar Padilla, All-Tournament outfielder Dustin Pritchett and senior reliever Josh Parham. The squad features 19 talented newcomers, including Big XII transfers Matt Wulfers (Missouri) and Matt Wagner (Nebraska) and the 2006 Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association Pro-Line Player of the Year, Jim Klocke.

Smith-Wills Stadium in Jackson, Miss.

GRIDIRON GANG: Due to inclement weather in the region, the Redhawks baseball team has been forced to practice on the football field at Houck Stadium and indoors at Houck Field House prior to the beginning of the season. Practicing on the artificial field turf at Houck Stadium could prove to be advantageous though - the playing surface at Smith-Wills Stadium is entirely Sprinturf. The only dirt on the playing field comprises the pitching mound. Meanwhile, the infield is a Sprinturf cutout in a reddish-brown to resemble dirt.

RADIO: Once again, all Southeast Redhawks baseball games can be heard live on 1220 AM KGIR/ESPN. The games can also be heard live through webcast available at www.kgir.com. Todd Bonacki will call the games in Jackson, Miss., this weekend, while Southeast sports information baseball contact Nathan Saverino will provide color commentary.