PREVIEW
ANDERSON
OVC CHAMPIONS • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2019
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outheast Missouri’s flight was on its descent to the Tampa International Airport for a tournament hosted by the University of South Florida when Head Coach Mark Redburn’s cell phone had just enough service to take a phone call. The call was from South Florida Head Coach Ken Eriksen who let Redburn know the tournament the Redhawks were travelling to play in was cancelled. Soon after that, Redburn was informed that his season was over after the NCAA voted to suspend play due to a global COVID-19 pandemic. SEMO was 12-5 when its season abruptly shut down. The Redhawks won nine in a row and posted a 9-1 record in their first 10 games. The Redhawks short season lasted only 23 days, but they accomplished a lot in a short amont of time. SEMO led the OVC in slugging percentage
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(.528), on-base percentage (.411), triples (14), stolen bases (41), fewest hits allowed (84) and fewest earned runs allowed (40). The Redhawks also rated second in the league in batting average (.310), home runs (19), opposing batting average (.204), runs allowed (51), stolen bases per game (2.4) and triples per game (0.8). Nationally, SEMO was among the top 25 in triples per game (2nd), stolen bases per game (8th), scoring (16th, 6.7), slugging percentage (21st) and on-base percentage (24th). Once the shock of their 2020 campaign being swept out from under them wore off, the Redhawks found a way to grow even stronger through adversity and are now again anxious to defend their Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and tournament crowns. “First of all, we are just excited to be out there playing,” said Redburn. “It’s going to be
OUTLOOK another year of adversity and challenges, but certainly we want the chance and opportunity to keep that drive and energy in the direction our program was moving forward. We’re excited to go out there and prove ourselves as one of the top teams in the conference.” SEMO enters the 2021 campaign as the OVC preseason favorite after tallying 228 points and 13 of the possible 24 first-place votes in the overall voting by OVC Head Coaches and Communication Directors. The Redhawks were also the league’s preseason favorite in 2020, but didn’t get a chance to play a conference game. All the uncertainties and challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the NCAA Division I Council to allow schools to provide spring-sport athletes an additional season of competition and an extension on their period of eligibility. So, everyone redshirted a year ago. SEMO’s 2021 roster includes 24 players with three seniors, five juniors, five sophomores and 11 freshmen. The Redhawks return five starters and have the deepest pitching they have had since Redburn took over as head coach. Here is a complete breakdown of the 2021 Redhawks: Catcher Sophomore Chely Pena (Columbia, Ill.) and freshman Karsyn Davis (Harrisburg, Ill.) will share starting duties at catcher this season. Pena saw action in 13 games and logged five starts, including four at catcher in 2020. She hit
2021 SOUTHEAST MISSOURI SOFTBALL
.200 with four runs scored, four hits, three RBI and four walks. Davis saw limited action playing in five games and starting one. Sophomore Leaha Wininger (Johnston City, Ill.) is another option at catcher. Wininger converted from infield to catcher to help widen the depth behind the plate. She played in 12 games, hitting .222 with three runs, a double and one RBI a year ago. Pena, Davis and Wininger fill the void left by two-year starting catcher Rachael Donald. Infield Three starters return on SEMO’s infield this year, including seniors Ashley Ellis (Arnold, Mo.) and Austine Pauley (St. Charles, Mo.), and junior Ashley Emert (East Peoria, Ill.), Ellis, back for her fifth year, has been the Redhawks starting first baseman her entire career. She was fourth on the team with a .347 batting average and accumulated 13 runs scored, 17 hits, two doubles, eight home runs and 21 RBI when play was suspended in 2021. Career wise, Ellis ranks second among the school’s alltime leaders with 34 home runs and already set SEMO’s single-season record with 17 home runs in 2019. She also ranks fourth all-time in RBI (122), sixth in total bases (273) and ninth in slugging percentage (.544). In addition, Ellis enters the season with a streak of 164 consecutive starts. Pauley, a transfer from Lindenwood University, started all 17 games at shortstop last season. She hit .271 with 12 runs, 13 hits, four doubles, a triple, two
