All it took was a little time for the Southeast Missouri State University softball team.

The Otahkians needed a little time to overcome a 2-2 start of the 1998 season, which included a 3-1 loss to SIUC March 1 in the Southern Classic. But behind the play of senior centerfielder Kim Palmer, who was the 1997 OVC Player of the Year, the Otahkians have reeled off wins in eight of their last nine games.

She’s a one-person wrecking crew, SIUC coach Kay Brechtelsbauer said. She can hit with power or throw you out at the plate. She’s going to get her hits, but we just got to keep people off the bases.

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The Salukis (15-5, 1-0) head to Cape Girardeau, Mo., today to face a SEMO team that is starting to resemble the club that was picked to win the Ohio Valley Conference regular season title. The doubleheader starts at 2 p.m.

The Otahkians were 10-3 heading into a battle with Northwestern University Monday night. Today will be the second and third meetings of SIUC and SEMO.

This is not a tournament, Brechtelsbauer said. They haven’t played two games the day before or anything. They’ll be ready to go after us.

SIUC should be fully rested for the matchup, having not been in action since March 15. SEMO played Northwestern University Monday, but bad weather forced the cancellation of the Salukis’ trip to the Missouri Invitational last weekend in Columbia, Mo.

The extended break was supposed to give freshman pitcher Erin Stremsterfer ample time to heal from a sprained ankle suffered during spring break. But Brechtelsbauer does not want to rush Stremsterfer back into the lineup too soon to help ensure she will be at 100 percent for this weekend’s Saluki Invitational at IAW Fields.

I don’t know if (Stremsterfer) will pitch tomorrow or not, Brechtelsbauer said. Her ankle is starting to come around, so she’ll be ready for the (Saluki Invitational).

Brechtelsbauer will need to hold on to the scouting reports. The two clubs tee it up again Saturday in the Invitational in their final matchup of the season.

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It’s just part of softball, because you’re going to play teams back-to-back, Brechtelsbauer said. We’re not hiding anything, and I doubt they are either. There aren’t going to be any really big secrets.

SIUC travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., to take on Southeast Missouri State University in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. today.