Logan Mahon offers more stability at back of Southeast Missouri State baseball team's bullpen

Logan Mahon did a respectable job as a starting pitcher for the Southeast Missouri State baseball team last year.

Mahon has been much more than respectable so far during his senior season.

The left-hander continued his stellar work out of the bullpen Saturday with his fifth save of the year as Southeast swept a doubleheader from visiting Tennessee-Martin, 8-2 and 8-2.

Mahon entered the seven-inning nightcap in the top of the sixth with the bases loaded and one out and the Redhawks clinging to a 2-0 lead.

Only for a while.

Mahon struck out Jordan Owen and got pinch-hitter Drew Mason on a ground ball to third. Southeast then broke open things with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

"That was the critical point in the game," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "He did an outstanding job. He continues to have an incredible year."

Mahon was 2-3 with a 6.45 ERA last season after transferring from junior college. He was a weekend conference starter who made only two of his 16 appearances out of the bullpen.

The decision was made this year to have Mahon strictly relieve. He has enjoyed the role and thrived in it.

"I like it a lot," said Mahon, who allowed two harmless runs in the seventh and final inning after Southeast went ahead 8-0. "You can just come in and give it everything you've got."

Mahon might have been a starter again this year had he not developed elbow problems late during fall workouts.

"Coach talked to me and said he was going to keep me in the bullpen for a while, then maybe start me later," Mahon said. "But I guess it's worked out like this."

Mahon already is tied for fourth on the school's single-season saves list. He also is tied for seventh on the career saves list.

Mahon is second in the Ohio Valley Conference in saves and tied for sixth in wins. He is 4-3 with a 2.25 ERA, which would be among the OVC leaders if he had enough innings to qualify.

Mahon has allowed just 20 hits while striking out 42 and walking 10 in 32 innings.

"He's been lights out all year and he's getting the ball in the toughest spots in the game," Hogan said.

Mahon has served as a late leftie complement out of the bullpen to sophomore right-hander Shae Simmons, a Scott City product who has three saves this year after recording five as a freshman. His eight saves are tied for third on the program's career list.

"I don't know a team that has anybody better than those two on the back end [of the bullpen]," Hogan said.

Russell on fire

Southeast's offense has caught fire in recent games. Nobody has been hotter than senior Brett Russell.

Russell had four hits Saturday, making him 16 for his last 31. The .516 average during that stretch has pushed his season mark to .359, second-best on the team among players with more than 30 at-bats.

"The ball is just looking like a watermelon right now," Russell said. "Everything is going my way."

Russell, who started both games at designated hitter Saturday, was splitting time during the early part of the season but he's been a regular fixture in the lineup lately, either at DH or first base.

"He's been doing it a few weeks now," Hogan said.

Russell had the only home run by either squad Saturday, a leadoff shot in the second inning of the nightcap that gave Southeast a 1-0 lead.

Russell's fifth homer of the season tied him with senior Michael Adamson for the team lead.

"Hopefully I can keep it going and keep contributing for the team," Russell said.

Noteworthy

* Senior Corey Harness, a key member of Southeast's bullpen, was unavailable Saturday and also will be unavailable for today's series finale after he felt a twinge in his elbow while pitching Wednesday at Saint Louis University.

Harness, who said he doesn't believe the issue is anything serious, is 2-0 with an 0.87 ERA in 10 1/3 innings spanning 10 appearances.

* Senior Brad LaBruyere, a Central High School graduate who is 4-1 with the OVC's second-best ERA of 3.49, will start on the mound for Southeast today.

* The Redhawks wore pink jerseys Saturday in honor of breast cancer awareness.

* UTM freshman Colton Young, a Notre Dame Regional High School graduate, pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings in Saturday's opener.