March 8, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -

This Week: Southeast Missouri State softball begins an eight-game homestand at the Southeast Softball Complex with five of the contests taking place this weekend. The Redhawks kick off the homestand with a single game against Belmont in their home opener this Friday (March 9) at 4 p.m. Southeast is also hosting the annual SEMO Spring Classic on Saturday and Sunday that features the Bears along with No. 18 Illinois State, Bradley and IUPUI.

Scouting The Redhawks: Southeast enters the weekend with a record of 2-4 on the young season after dropping a pair of games last weekend at the SLU Cancer Center Classic in St. Louis to UMKC (6-0) and Missouri State (10-4). Freshman pitcher/infielder Stacia Dopudja and sophomore infielder/pitcher Lauren Bradley currently lead the Redhawks in batting (.353), hits (six) and on-base percentage (.389), while junior infielder Megan McDonald is the team's home run leader (three). Junior pitcher Elaine Fisher paces the Southeast pitching staff with a 2.59 ERA and 15 strikeouts.

Scouting The Bruins: Belmont brings a 3-11 season ledger into Cape this weekend following a home doubleheader split Wednesday against Indiana State. The Bruins captured the first game by a score of 4-3 before dropping a 6-0 decision in the nightcap. Junior catcher Jess McMillan leads Belmont with a .361 batting average to go along with 13 hits and three home runs on the year. Sophomore Sammi Parks leads the Bruins' pitching staff with a 2-4 record with 32 strikeouts and a 5.59 ERA. Head Coach Amy Tudor is currently in her first season as Belmont's head coach after serving as the head coach at NCAA Division III Ohio Wesleyan for two years.

Scouting The Braves: Bradley heads to the SEMO Spring Classic with an 8-2 record. The Braves produced a 1-1 record at the Red and Black Cardinal Tournament last weekend in Louisville with a 3-2 over Western Kentucky and a 1-0 loss to Louisville. Bradley is paced offensively by senior outfielder Christine Cooney, who is hitting .409 on the year. Sophomore infielder Alycia Bachkora leads the team with 11 hits, eight RBI, four doubles and two home runs. Sophomore pitcher Ashley Birdsong has amassed a 6-1 record with a 0.67 era and 65 strikeouts for Bradley. Buddy Foster has tallied produced a 33-25 record in his second year at the Peoria, Ill., school.

Scouting The Jaguars: IUPUI has posted a 0-7 record heading into the weekend after falling to host Kentucky (12-5), Butler (9-1) and Evansville (10-2) last weekend at the UK Frostbite Classic in Lexington, Ky. The Jaguars are led in hitting by senior first baseman Susan Jones with a .375 batting average and a .563 slugging percentage. Jessica McGown and Kristina Stanley have posted seven strikeouts apiece on the mound to lead IUPUI. Guiding the Jaguars is second-year head coach Maggie Calcaterra who has tallied a 13-34 career record.

Up Next: The Redhawks open Ohio Valley Conference play at the Southeast Softball Complex next weekend when Samford comes into town for a three-game series. The two teams will face off in a doubleheader on March 17 with a start time of 1 p.m.