Key players find stroke at plate in outburst

Perhaps nobody was happier about Southeast Missouri State's offensive onslaught than Justin Wheeler.

Wheeler, the Redhawks' senior left fielder, had been mired in a major slump to start the season.

But Wheeler broke out Saturday with two home runs in the first game of a doubleheader against visiting Northern Iowa.

Wheeler finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBIs as the Redhawks banged out 26 hits and eight homers while posting a sweep.

"It definitely felt good, and especially to help the team out," Wheeler said.

Wheeler had a strong rookie season for the Redhawks last year as the junior college transfer batted .305 with seven homers, 11 doubles and 33 RBIs.

But Wheeler entered play Saturday with just four hits in 31 at-bats, a .129 average, although he did have one home run.

"I was hitting the ball pretty good, I just wasn't finding any holes," Wheeler said. "I just basically told myself to stay confident.

"It was frustrating, but everybody sticking behind me, my teammates and coaches, really helped."

Southeast coach Mark Hogan said it was pretty much a no-brainer to keep Wheeler in the lineup during his struggles at the plate.

Wheeler has started all 11 games for the Redhawks (7-4), either in left field or at designated hitter.

"It was just a matter of time for Justin," Hogan said.

Another key Southeast player who had been struggling offensively also showed signs that he might be coming out of it.

Junior center fielder Nick Harris hit .310 last year with 10 homers, 12 doubles, four triples and 41 RBIs.

Harris entered play Saturday batting .194, and went 0-for-5 in the opener.

But Harris went 3-for-4 in the nightcap and scored the winning run in the 7-6 win.

After senior first baseman Matt Wagner's two-out solo homer in the sixth inning tied the contest 6-6, Harris singled, stole second base and came home on sophomore third baseman Trenton Moses' single.

Career firsts

Southeast had several career firsts in the sweep.

Sophomore Louie Haseltine, who received just nine at-bats last year, belted his first collegiate home run, a solo shot in the eighth inning of the 20-8 opener.

Haseltine has seen action this season at DH and in left field.

Senior second baseman Tony Spencer got his first career triple in the opener, one day after hitting his first career homer.

And junior catcher Jim Klocke notched his first career win on the mound.

Klocke, who before this season never had pitched in college, has emerged as Southeast's closer with two saves entering the twin bill.

Klocke allowed his first two runs of the season as UNI rallied to go ahead in the seven-inning nightcap with a four-run sixth that made it 6-5.

But after Southeast regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth, Klocke bounced back with a perfect seventh, including two strikeouts.

"Obviously I wanted to save the game. I didn't want my team to have to come back like that," said Klocke, who also went 4-for-4 with a homer in the opener. "But we did a great job to come back."

Said Hogan: "Give their guys credit for banging him around [in the sixth inning]. But it was exciting to see the way Jim bounced back in the seventh."

Noteworthy

• Saturday's announced attendance was a season-high 876 as the crowd took advantage of the warmest day of the season.

"It was just a great atmosphere," Hogan said.

• Southeast and UNI are scheduled to complete their four-game series at 1 p.m. today, although the forecast calls for rain.

"We need to get some guys work on the mound," Hogan said. "Hopefully we can get the game in."