First-place Redhawks sweep Tennessee Tech

Southeast Missouri State's sizzling offense was finally held somewhat in check.

But the streaking Redhawks still found a way to squeeze out a victory for a doubleheader sweep that moved them into sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"What a day," junior right fielder Louie Haseltine said. "That was perfect."

After holding on to beat Tennessee Tech 11-9 in Saturday's nine-inning opener, the Redhawks were limited to four runs and seven hits in the seven-inning nightcap.

That's the lowest run total for the Redhawks since March 7 and the hit total matched their season low, which came way back in February.

No matter. The Redhawks pulled out a 4-3 victory in front of a season-high announced crowd of more than 2,200 boisterous fans at sun-drenched Capaha Field.

"Somehow we managed," said sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley, who was a central figure in the second-game triumph that saw Southeast score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning. "Capaha has been good to us."

That's for sure as Southeast improved to 17-2 at home.

More importantly, the Redhawks are now 20-10 overall and 7-1 in OVC play. They have posted six straight conference wins and have won 14 of their past 16 games overall.

"Winning these two was big and we're looking to take another one," said Haseltine, pointing to today's 1 p.m. series finale.

Tech (13-19, 0-5) is the only OVC team without a league win so far but Southeast coach Mark Hogan knew the Redhawks would get the best shot of the defending OVC tournament champion Eagles.

"They're a really good club, but what a great day for us," Hogan said. "It's somebody different about every day. We've got a great group of guys and it's very exciting.

"And I'm just awed by our fans. We totally appreciate it."

Southeast, carrying a .358 team batting average after entering the week sixth nationally, was limited by perhaps the OVC's premier starting pitcher as senior right-hander Lee Henry carried a sparkling 2.73 ERA into the contest.

"He's a good arm. We remember him from last year," Haseltine said. "But we did what we had to do to win."

The Redhawks were able to pull off the sweep largely because junior college transfer left-hander Logan Mahon had the best performance of his young Division I career and arguably the best outing by a Southeast starter this year.

Mahon pitched a season-high 6 1/3 innings and struck out a season-high 10, although he did not figure into the decision.

Mahon allowed seven hits and walked two. After giving up two first-inning runs, he shut down a strong Tech offense that entered with the OVC's second-best batting average at .331.

"It was a classic duel. It's a credit to both pitchers," Hogan said. "It was exciting to see Logan pitch that way. I felt like he could do that for us. He's been pitching really well lately."

It looked like Mahon might be able to finish off a complete-game victory as he struck out the leadoff batter in the top of the seventh with Southeast ahead 3-2.

But a walk and a double tied things, which brought on Shae Simmons. The freshman right-hander from Scott City, who earned a save in the opener, continued his brilliant work by getting out of the jam and preserving the tie. He would be rewarded with the win.

That's because of a spine-tingling bottom of the seventh.

Pinch-hitter Ky Burgess, a juco transfer, led off with a double. With a 1-0 count on juco transfer second baseman Tim Rupp, Henry was replaced by junior right-hander Stephen Pryor.

The fire-balling Pryor, who entered having struck out an amazing 39 in just 19 1/3 innings, immediately threw a wild pitch as Burgess moved to third.

Pryor, an imposing 6-foot-4, 235-pounder, struck out Rupp on a fastball clocked at 96 miles per hour.

"I didn't feel so bad striking out after hearing that," Rupp said with a laugh.

With an 0-2 count on juco transfer DH Brett Russell, Hogan called for a squeeze play. Russell got the bunt down, but Pryor made a nice play and nailed Burgess at the plate as Russell reached first.

With a 2-2 count on leadoff batter Parmley, and with Pryor continuing to throw in the mid-90s, extra innings seemed a good bet.

Hogan called for a hit-and-run and somehow Parmley stroked another Pryor fastball into right field for a clean single. With Russell charging toward third, the ball was booted for an error and Russell scored easily. The Redhawks and their fans erupted.

"He was throwing gas, my God," Parmley said of Pryor. "I just cut my swing down."

Said Rupp: "It seems like every game somebody different steps up. That's what a good team does. You always think you're going to win."

Haseltine's fourth-inning solo home run had put Southeast up 3-2 after Haseltine also homered in the opener. He has a home run in 10 of the past 12 games.

Southeast's offense was its usual explosive self in the opener with 19 hits, including three homers, four doubles and a triple.

Juco transfer third baseman Casey Jones homered twice and had four RBIs.

Rupp had four hits and three RBIs -- two on a key eighth-inning single with two outs that made it 11-7 -- while junior center fielder Blake Slattery from Central High School also had four hits.

Senior right-hander Kyle Gumieny improved to 6-0. He went five innings, allowing nine hits and six runs. He struck out four and walked three.

Juco transfers Nick Thomas and Michael Adamson provided solid relief for Simmons to nail it down after Tech scored two unearned ninth-inning runs.