Redhawks muscle way to sweep of Panthers

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team wanted to redeem itself after Friday's 3-1 loss to Northern Iowa in the opener of a four-game home series.

A blowout and a comeback during Saturday's doubleheader turned the trick for the Redhawks.

Southeast romped 20-8 in the nine-inning opener, then rallied for a 7-6 victory in the seven-inning nightcap.

"It was a fun day for us, to get back on track," junior center fielder Nick Harris said.

The Redhawks (7-4) broke a two-game losing streak.

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.comSoutheast Missouri State's Tyrell Cummings watches his home run during the second inning of the first game against Northern Iowa on Saturday at Capaha Field. For more photos from the game, check online at: www.semissourian.com.

"What a great bounce back for us after getting shut down yesterday," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

UNI (5-6) limited Southeast's explosive offense to five hits in the series opener as standout senior left-hander Nick Kirk threw eight dominant innings Friday.

The Redhawks took out their frustrations on UNI pitchers Saturday with 26 hits and eight home runs, including six homers in the opener.

"Yesterday he [Kirk] kind of overmatched us," Harris said. "It was good to bounce back with the bats today."

Despite all that offense, the Redhawks needed a late rally in the nightcap after it looked like they would coast to the sweep.

Southeast's James Leigh, left, and Jim Klocke talk on the mound Saturday.

UNI scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to go ahead 6-5, and Southeast's first two hitters were retired in the bottom of the sixth.

Senior first baseman Matt Wagner ignited the big crowd at Capaha Field with his Ohio Valley Conference-leading sixth home run of the season to tie it.

Harris then singled, stole second and came home on a single by sophomore third baseman Trenton Moses.

"That was a great win after we were down," said Moses, an Advance product.

Although Moses is batting .308, he had been slumping recently before getting his first homer of the season in Saturday's opener, although he went just 1-for-5.

Southeast's Jim Klocke meets his teammates after hitting a homer during the first game.

Moses was 0-for-2 in the nightcap before delivering the game-winning hit. He wasn't feeling very confident in the late at-bat after falling behind two strikes.

"When you're struggling, it seems like you're always down two strikes," he said. "I was looking fastball and got a change, but I kept my hands back."

Moses smiled when asked if he was surprised he was able to adjust to the pitch.

"I was surprised I hit it at all, especially the way I've been swinging," he said.

Junior catcher Jim Klocke, who has emerged as Southeast's closer after having never pitched in college before this season, blew his first save of the year during UNI's sixth-inning rally.

But Klocke, who had saved two games previously, bounced back to close out the victory with a perfect seventh for his first collegiate win. He struck out two in the final frame.

Senior left fielder Justin Wheeler led the first-game home run barrage with two long balls.

Klocke, senior right fielder Tyrell Cummings and sophomore outfielder/DH Louie Haseltine also went deep.

Cummings followed up with another homer in the nightcap.

Wagner went 5-for-8 in the twin bill and is now batting .432 to lead Southeast's full-time hitters.

Klocke went 4-for-4 in the opener. Cummings, Moses and Wheeler all drove in four runs on the day.

"We were all swinging the bat pretty good," Klocke said.

Senior left-hander James Leigh (2-0) notched the first-game win. He allowed two earned runs and seven hits, with eight strikeouts and five walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Junior college transfer John Salazar notched his first save in his second straight strong relief performance. Salazar gave up four hits and one earned run over the final 3 2/3 innings.

"He's looked good," Hogan said.

So did many of the Redhawks during their bounce-back day.

"Getting a comeback win like we did in the second game, you can take that momentum to the next day," said Harris as he looked forward to today's 1 p.m. series finale.