April 13, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Returning home for the first time in nearly two weeks, Southeast Missouri State softball kicks off another five-game homestand at the Southeast Softball Complex with an Ohio Valley Conference weekend series against Austin Peay beginning with a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.

The Redhawks (10-22, 4-10 OVC) have dropped eight of their last nine contests entering this weekend's series, including a pair of losses at Eastern Illinois on Wednesday. Southeast is led offensively by junior shortstop Megan McDonald (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Cape Central), who is hitting 317 on the year, while freshman infielder/pitcher Stacia Dopudja (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic) is tied with McDonald for the team lead in hits (32) and home runs (seven) in addition to eight doubles and 26 RBI. Junior pitcher Elaine Fisher (St. Peters, Mo./Francis Howell North) paces the Redhawk staff with seven wins and 96 strikeouts in 153 innings of work.

Austin Peay (16-20, 5-9 OVC) is currently on a nine-game losing skid after losing a conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Tennessee-Martin by scores of 1-0 and 7-6 in eight innings. The Lady Govs are led by freshman catcher Daniella Hooper's .341 batting average and 20 RBI during the season. Senior pitcher/infielder Natasha Anderson has tallied 11 wins, three saves and 196 strikeouts in 147 and one-third innings, while hitting .301 with five doubles, three homers and 16 RBI at the plate. The Lady Govs are guided by third-year head coach Jim Perrin, who has tallied a 54-80 career record at the Clarksville, Tenn., school.

Southeast holds a commanding 48-9 lead in the all-time series with Austin Peay that includes a three-game sweep of the Lady Govs in Clarksville last season. The Redhawks claimed two out of three games during the teams' last series in Cape Girardeau during the 2005 campaign, but Austin Peay posted a 4-2 win in the series finale.

After the Austin Peay series, the Redhawks host Saint Louis in a non-conference midweek doubleheader on Tuesday, April 17 with a start time of 3 p.m.