Redhawks put pieces together, sweep series

Southeast Missouri State finally found the offense to match its recent stellar pitching and defense.

The result was a lopsided victory to complete an Ohio Valley Conference series sweep without allowing a run.

Southeast banged out a season-high 12 hits and scored its most runs since late February, as the Redhawks routed Murray State 7-0 on Sunday.

The host Redhawks shut out the Thoroughbreds in all three games after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader 1-0 and 5-0.

"That's almost unheard of, three straight shutouts," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "It's not going to happen often."

Southeast has now won four straight games, after previously losing seven in a row. The Redhawks improved to 10-14 overall and 3-3 in OVC play, while dropping the Thoroughbreds to 7-21 and 0-6.

Derek Herbig pitched seven strong innings, as the Redhawks have allowed just eight runs in their past seven games. Southeast has three straight shutouts for the first time since 2001.

"The pitching has been great," senior catcher Levi Olson said. "Everybody is really throwing good."

Southeast's defense also continued to shine, with another errorless performance. The Redhawks have one error in their last five games.

But for one day at least, Southeast's previously struggling offense did not have to take a back seat to other facets of the Redhawks.

After getting just nine hits during Saturday's doubleheader -- and entering Sunday's affair with a lowly .214 batting average -- the Redhawks' sprayed hard shots all over Capaha Field.

Olson went 3-for-3 with two doubles, while Dustin Pritchett was 3-for-4 with a triple.

Jordan Payne had a double among his two hits, Omar Padilla added two hits and freshman Daniel Schuh belted his second home run of the season, tying Padilla for the team lead.

It was Schuh's second homer of the week, after his ninth-inning blast beat nationally ranked Missouri 3-2 on Wednesday, a victory that started the Redhawks' current winning streak.

"I don't want to jinx it and say we're turning the corner, but it sure looks like it," Olson said of the offense. "As a club, collectively, we just need to believe in each other."

Said Hogan, whose squad had scored only 16 runs in its past nine games: "The offense was a lot better today. You know it just can't keep going the way it was. It has to change some time."

Herbig, a senior left-hander, lost a complete-game 1-0 decision March 26 at Tennessee-Martin. That was part of three one-run defeats for the Redhawks to begin OVC play, as they scored three runs in the series.

The Redhawks gave Herbig (2-1) plenty of support this time, and he took full advantage, allowing two hits in seven innings, with six strikeouts and two walks.

"I had my curve working the whole game. My fastball wasn't real good early, but it got going," Herbig said. "Getting those runs helps. The offense looked good. It was impressive."

James Hibbard and Michael Taylor each worked one scoreless inning to finish off a four-hit shutout, as Southeast pitchers extended their string of scoreless innings to 27.

Southeast grabbed a 1-0 second-inning lead when Olson doubled and scored on Pritchett's triple.

The Redhawks added a run in the fourth, then broke things open with a three-run fifth for their first three-run inning since March 11. Southeast added runs in the sixth and eighth.

"It's nice to have that kind of cushion," Hogan said.

Defense also again did its part.

Shortstop Robby Moore made a nice play in the hole on Murray State's first batter of the game.

In the second inning, after the Thoroughbreds' leadoff hitter reached, Pritchett made a spectacular diving catch in left field to prevent at least a double.

"The defense early really picked us up," Hogan said. "If Pritchett doesn't make that catch, they've got something going and who knows what happens."

Murray State has lost 10 straight. Junior second baseman Seth Hudson, a Central High School graduate who is one of the OVC's leading hitters, went 0-for-4 to end his hitting streak at 10 games.

Southeast visits St. Louis University for a 3 p.m. contest Tuesday.