March 11, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Friday, March 11, 2005) Redhawks Head Coach Lana Richmond has stressed that the upcoming road trip to Kissimmee, Florida is not a "Spring Break" trip for the Southeast Missouri State softball team. With 10 games in five days, the team will have little time to enjoy the fun and sun of the Sunshine State. It's all business for the Redhawks as they look to snap a four-game losing streak.

The Redhawks (1-5, 0-0 OVC) will compete in the Rebel Spring Games for the second consecutive year. Last season Southeast had a rough trip in Kissimmee, a suburb near Orlando, as they went 1-7 with their lone win over Vermont. This time around Coach Richmond is more confident that the team will improve on last years record. Five of the losses last season were by three runs or less including two games by the final score of 2-1.

With two games scheduled for each day, the Redhawks will rely on their depth and pitching to succeed. On March 12 the Redhawks face Saint Peter's College for the first time in school history. They will then take on Sacred Heart University at 12:30 p.m. in game two. Southeast and Sacred Heart have split their two meetings.

On March 13 the Redhawks will look to avenge a 3-0 loss to Cleveland State at last year's Spring games. The Vikings are 1-4 this season. Next for Southeast on Sunday is another rematch from last year's Spring Games when the Redhawks take on Colgate University. Colgate won last year's meeting 4-1 and evening all-time series against the Redhawks at 1-1.

Day three features a match-up with Columbia University and Rider University. Columbia has already two games under their belt at the Spring Games after defeating Detroit Mercy and Monmouth on Friday. The two wins improve the Lions to 4-4 on the season. This will be the first meeting between the schools. Rider defeated Southeast last season 2-1 in the first meeting of the school's. Rider is 1-3 this season.

On March 15 the Redhawks open with Northern Colorado. The Bears have played 16 games already this season and have a record of 4-12. This will be the first meeting between the schools. In game two the Redhawks face another school for the first time in George Washington University. The Colonials are 3-8 this season.

The Redhawks close the Spring Games with an early game against George Mason. The Patriots are 4-10 this season. The Redhawks hold the all-time advantage against the Patriots at 2-0. Southeast closes the Games with a match-up with Ivy League school Yale. Yale dropped to 1-4 with a loss to Detroit Mercy on Friday at the Spring Games opening day. The Redhawks won the only match-up between the schools.

Last season pitching kept Southeast competitive, Kelly Birk (Huntington Beach, CA/Edison HS) and Amy Fahnestock (Ste. Genevieve, MO/Wabash CC) were superb in last year's Games. Birk appeared in four games including three starts. She compiled an ERA of 0.82 allowing only two earned runs in 17 innings pitched. She pitched a gem against Vermont going the distance allowing one run on five hits for the win. Fahnestock was solid as she appeared in four games as well with two of those appearances starts. She struck out eight in 11 innings in those four games.