March 9, 2008

Game Notes

FIRST PITCH: Gametime Monday is 3 p.m. from Capaha Field. Dustin Renfrow will start for Southeast. Lyon has yet to declare a starter for the game.

SERIES HISTORY: Monday will mark the first meeting between the Redhawks and Scots.

LAST SERIES: Southeast salvaged the final game of last weekend's four-game set against Northern Colorado. The Redhawks won on a walk-off single from Matt Wagner in the bottom of the ninth to give them a 14-13 victory in the slugfest. Tuesday's scheduled game at Saint Louis and Saturday's doubleheader against William Woods were called due to snow.

LAST GAME: The Redhawks are coming off a victory the Sunday contest of the Northern Colorado series, 14-13. Tyrell Cummings homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the offensive explosion as Southeast broke out with 13 hits.

STREAKING JUNIORS: Junior college transfers Tyrell Cummings and Justin Wheeler have gotten off to hot starts in their NCAA careers. Both carry 6-game hitting streaks into today's contest. Wheeler leads the team with five multiple-hit games.

AILING ALL-AMERICAN: Sophomore Nick Harris suffered a right knee injury during the first game of the season on Feb. 22 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He has started rehabilitation and is expected to be sidelined 4-6 weeks. Tony Spencer has filled in nicely at shortstop and is hitting .292 with three RBIs from the leadoff spot.

THREE OF A KIND: Three Redhawks were named to the Preseason All-OVC Team that was announced prior to the OVC Media Day Teleconference on Tuesday. Senior right-hander Dustin Renfrow, redshirt junior first basemen Matt Wagner and sophomore catcher Jim Klocke all earned a spot on the squad based on votes from the league's 10 head coaches.

GRIDIRON GANG: Due to multiple rounds of ice and snow in the Cape Girardeau area, the baseball team was been forced to practice inside at Houck Field House and on the FieldTurf at Houck Stadium. The grounds crew at Capaha Field, headed by John Amschler, has worked hard to prepare the natural grass for playing conditions. The Redhawks have recently been able to have full practices at Capaha Field as the weather has improved.

LOCAL FLAVOR: Nine local players are currently playing in the Southeast program. Freshmen Brad LaBruyere, Blake Slattery and Matt Hester are all playing in their hometown of Cape Girardeau after playing as teammates at Cape Central High School. Matt Wulfers is also playing in his hometown after spending his prep career at Notre Dame High School in Cape Girardeau. Andy Stephens, Blake Dirnberger and Rynn Eskew all played together at Scott City High School. Lance Rhodes hails from Sikeston and Trevor Irwin is a native of Oran.