Kettering’s 2 home runs send Redhawks soaring to OVC championship.

On a team full of juniors and seniors, it was the freshman who stood out and had the game of his young career.

Freshman second baseman Brooks Kettering went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs to push Southeast Missouri State past Southern Indiana 11-5 in the semifinal round of the OVC Tournament on Friday, May 24, in Marion, Illinois.

The second home run struck the pitch clock and due to confusion, Kettering ran the bases like he was going for an inside-the-parker.

“I wasn’t too sure where it hit off of,” Kettering said. “I just saw the outfielders run after the ball so I was just running my butt off trying to get as many bags as I could. I thought it was an inside-the-parker but over the wall works still.”

Kettering entered the OVC Tournament with 17 multi-hit games and a .305 batting average, which earned him 2nd Team All-OVC honors. He has also hit four of his six home runs in the last 15 games.

“I’ve just been looking for consistency the whole year and I’ve kept on building throughout the season,” Kettering said. “I really liked this past month that I’ve put together and felt more comfortable in the box and I knew I’d be able to compete since day one. I just had to learn about DI baseball and what it takes to succeed and continue to build off every game.”

The consistency as a hitter has been there all season but he is just now finding his pop, which makes him an even more dangerous leadoff hitter.

“It kind of all started to come together,” Kettering said. “Whenever you’re calm and have a smooth approach I feel like that’s what slows it down for me.”

SEMO head coach Andy Sawyers saw Kettering’s potential from the very first scrimmage this past August leading up to this season.

“He hit for the cycle and I said we have the best freshman hitter in the league,” Sawyers said.

The path to the OVC Championship Game has been paved by the Redhawks reserves. The players who were not in the lineup every day have found their moment in Marion.

Southeast Missouri State�s Keoni Coloma swings at a pitch against Southern Indiana in the OVC Tournament on Friday, May 24, in Marion, Illinois. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Keoni Coloma, who homered previously in the tournament opener, went 3-for-5 with two doubles, another home run, and four RBI. He has shared the designated hitter role for much of the season but has been a fixture in the lineup as of late.

“I think the thing about him is he’s learning how to pull the ball better than he ever has in the past,” Sawyers said. “He’s just getting better probably at the power part of his game. He’s a good at-bat, he understands the strike zone and he’s got a good swing.”

Nolan Ackerman, who has been the backup catcher all season, went 2-for-5 and Ian Riley hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning, one day after hitting a home run.

“That’s fun to see because we tell them all the time to keep your attitude good and keep working hard and someday you’ll get your opportunity,” Sawyers said.

Southeast Missouri State�s Ian Riley celebrates hitting a two-run triple against Southern Indiana in the OVC Tournament on Friday, May 24, in Marion, Illinois. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Riley, the senior from Dallas Baptist, entered the tournament with three starts, a .125 batting average, and his only RBIs coming from two solo home runs. With Michael Mugan nursing an injury sustained at the end of the season, Riley was thrust into the starting center field spot and has driven in a total of four runs for the Redhawks.

“Riley is the perfect example of that,” Sawyers said. “He’s getting a chance to play in the biggest stage that we got so I’m very happy for him and proud of how he’s handled the whole situation of this year overall.”

The Redhawks face Morehead State in the OVC Championship Game at noon on Saturday, May 25. After falling to SEMO 9-4 on Thursday, the Eagles came back to eliminate top-seeded Little Rock and Southern Indiana in the nightcap of both days.

Brian Strange (5.56 ERA), a junior out of Mineral Area College, will get the start.

“He might be one of our most competitive pitchers,” Sawyers said.

Since the tournament is a double elimination format, SEMO can afford to lose that game, as a second elimination game will be played afterward to determine the champion.

A win for the Redhawks would be their third OVC championship in four years. It would also be the fourth sport won by the Redhawks this year.

“That’s what you strive for,” Kettering said. “Every day and everything that we’ve done this offseason has prepared us to get to this point.”