Parmley homers to extend hitting streak in Southeast Missouri State baseball team's loss to Tennessee Tech

Kenton Parmley had another historic hit, and two other Southeast Missouri State baseball players continued impressive streaks.

But the Redhawks could not make up for Tennessee Tech's five-run first inning. They suffered an 8-3 loss in Saturday's second contest of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Capaha Field.

A season-high crowd of more than 1,000 fans enjoyed free food and beverages, which were provided by Beef O'Brady's and Kohlfeld Distributing, while seeing Southeast miss out on a chance to post its first OVC series win of the season.

The Redhawks (13-27, 4-10) still have a chance to accomplish that when they face the Eagles (17-21, 7-7) in today's 1 p.m. rubber matchup.

Southeast, which claimed Friday's series opener 9-6, is tied for last place in the 10-team OVC. Tech is tied for fifth.

Southeast Missouri State's Ryan Barnes is forced out at second base by Tennessee Tech's Chad Hayes on Saturday. (Fred Lynch)

"We haven't had too many shots to win a series going into Sunday," Parmley said. "I'm pleased with having a shot."

Parmley, Southeast's senior shortstop, had the Redhawks' biggest shot Saturday, a two-run homer in the fifth inning that cut Tech's lead to 5-3.

Parmley's second home run of the series and seventh of the season extended his school and conference record hitting streak to 47 games, which moves him into a tie with Wichita State's Phil Stephenson (1981) for the third-longest streak in NCAA Division I history.

Former major league star and current Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura set the Division I record with a 58-game hitting streak for Oklahoma State in 1987.

The only other Division I streak longer than Parmley's is 56 by Florida International's Garrett Wittels in 2011.

Southeast Missouri State third baseman Trenton Moses looks for the call after tagging Tennessee Tech's Austin Wulf, who was called out on the steal attempt during the second inning Saturday.

"It's very exciting. It's an honor," Parmley said. "Hopefully I can keep it going."

Senior All-American third baseman Trenton Moses had a single in the fourth inning to extend his school-record streak of reaching base safely to 60 games. Neither the OVC nor NCAA keeps a record for that statistic.

Sophomore left fielder Derek Gibson had a single in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 24 games.

But the Redhawks didn't do much else offensively. They managed only six hits, including two by Parmley.

"We just didn't do enough with the bats, but give their pitcher a lot of credit," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We were no match for Mr. Shepherd today."

Tech senior right-hander Matthew Shepherd (4-2) was brilliant. He recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts while throwing 140 pitches over 7 1/3 innings.

"He did a good job," Tech coach Matt Bragga said. "We haven't pushed him like that before. I think he's only been over 100 pitches a few times."

Shepherd, who worked around six walks, allowed three runs, two earned. He gave up four hits.

"Their pitcher threw all three pitches for strikes," Parmley said. "He was just a good pitcher today. I give him credit."

The Eagles' mound work didn't end with Shepherd. Junior right-hander Zane Morton recorded the final five outs for a save. He gave up two hits.

Southeast also got an impressive pitching performance, but it came from reliever Zack Smith, who entered in the second inning after the Redhawks already trailed 5-0.

Juco transfer right-hander Tony Zerrusen, who was making just his second start and first OVC start, was torched for five runs and four hits in the top of the first inning. He also walked two batters in the frame.

Senior shortstop Chad Hayes had the big blow, a three-run homer with two outs to cap the uprising.

"You can't start a game giving up five runs," Hogan said. "It definitely put us behind the 8-ball."

Zerrusen (1-2) was lifted after allowing a leadoff single in the second inning.

Smith, a juco transfer left-hander, kept the Redhawks in the game. He shut out Tech on two hits over a career-high 5 2/3 innings. He struck out two and walked one.

"He did a great job to settle everything down," Hogan said. "Parmley's shot kept us in the game, and we took it to the ninth inning a two-run game."

But the Redhawks could not erase the early deficit, and Tech added three insurance runs off senior left-hander Ryan Prickett in the ninth inning.

"We had several opportunities, but he made a lot of big pitches," Hogan said about Shepherd. "He's a veteran. He's been out there a lot."

Tech had 10 hits, led by sophomore first baseman Zach Stephens, junior third baseman Michael Morris and freshman second baseman Dylan Bosheers with two each.

Morris had a two-RBI single during the Eagles' three-run ninth inning.

"We were able to get some timely hits today," Bragga said. "It was good to bounce back."

Today's pitching matchup will feature Southeast juco transfer right-hander Dylan Lynn (2-0, 6.52) against Tech true freshman right-hander David Hess (2-3, 6.87).

"It's a big game," Parmley said. "We need to finally win a series."