Redhawks cap weekend with 5-3 win over EIU

It would be hard to imagine Southeast Missouri State having a better baseball weekend.

The Redhawks not only captured their first Ohio Valley Conference series win of the season, but they finished things off in style with their first OVC series sweep, thanks to Sunday's 5-3 victory over visiting Eastern Illinois.

Southeast, which had lost two of three games in all four of its previous conference series, improved to 16-22 overall and 7-8 in league play.

The Redhawks, who have a three-game winning streak for just the second time this year, took over sole possession of sixth place in the OVC. They are only one-half game out of fifth place and just two games out of third after beginning the weekend eighth.

"It was just really a good weekend for us," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "I felt we had to sweep, and thankfully we did."

Not only did the Redhawks sweep the Panthers (9-29, 6-9), they looked impressive in doing so.

Southeast, which won Saturday's doubleheader 9-4 and 7-2, had 31 hits in the series -- many of them timely -- committed only one error while making numerous strong defensive plays, and received stellar pitching.

"We got key hits, the defense picked it up and the pitching was great all weekend," third baseman Eric Horstman said. "The whole team came together and we need to keep it up. Hopefully we can get on a roll."

The Redhawks, who entered the series averaging just 4.3 runs per game, averaged seven runs during the three contests.

"I thought we were a lot more consistent at the plate. We got some big hits," Hogan said. "We just played really well all weekend."

Southeast had 11 hits Sunday, led by catcher Levi Olson's 3-for-4 performance that included a double and two runs batted in. Olson, who entered the weekend batting just .190, also blocked about a half-dozen pitches in the dirt that prevented runners from moving up.

Designated hitter Freddy Lopez was 2-for-3, with a double and two RBIs. Horstman was 2-for-4 to finish the series 5-for-11, while shortstop Ernie Bracamonte was 2-for-5 Sunday and 6-for-11 over the weekend. Freshman first baseman James Clayton added a hit, making him 4-for-9 in the series.

Defensively, the Redhawks turned in several sparkling plays, the best by second baseman Bo Jenkins in the fourth inning.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Jenkins ranged far to his right to field a grounder hit by Mark Chagnon, then leaped into the air and threw across his body with enough zip on the ball to nip Chagnon at first and end the threat, preserving Southeast's 3-1 lead.

Clayton made three strong plays, including one where he started and finished a 3-6-3 double play. He also made a running, over-the-shoulder catch of a foul pop fly.

"Our defense was great. It's probably the reason we won today," Hogan said. "Bo made a sensational play, and Jim made some really nice plays."

Left-hander Derek Herbig struggled some with his control but gave the Redhawks a third consecutive solid start, after Joey Evans and Jamie McAlister both threw complete games Saturday.

Herbig (3-2) allowed eight hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and four walks.

"My control wasn't very good today, but we played really good defense," Herbig said. "And Ryan came in and did a great job."

Ryan Forsyth, a right-hander, replaced Herbigwith one out in the seventh and runners on first and second after three singles had already plated a run.

Forsyth escaped the threat with no further damage and wound up retiring eight of the nine batters he faced -- the only blemish was a solo homer by Joe Hernandez in the eighth -- as he earned his first save of the season.

"As soon as I went in, I knew I had my stuff working," Forsyth said. "I wanted to finish."

Said Hogan: "Derek didn't have his best stuff, but he really battled. And Ryan did a great job."

Southeast trailed for the first time all series when EIU scored a second-inning run. But Southeast came back with three in the third -- all with two outs -- as Olson had a two-run single and Lopez followed with an RBI single. The Redhawks never looked back.

"This is what we needed," Forsyth said of the series sweep. "This might be the turning point of the year, if we can keep it up."

The Redhawks have a nonconference game Wednesday at Southern Illinois.