Redhawks salvage final game against Austin Peay

On a weekend when most of Southeast Missouri State's pitchers struggled, Lance Rhodes emerged unscathed.

Good thing for the Redhawks, who were bailed out by Rhodes on Sunday as they avoided being swept in an Ohio Valley Conference home series.

Rhodes settled down a wild affair with five scoreless innings, helping Southeast slip past Austin Peay 10-9.

"He shut the door on their hitting parade," teammate Tony Spencer said.

Austin Peay, which swept Saturday's doubleheader 6-5 and 7-6, banged out 13 hits against Southeast's other three hurlers Sunday.

The Governors managed two hits off Rhodes, who allowed two inherited runners to score in the fifth inning as Austin Peay tied the contest 9-9. Rhodes dominated the visitors the rest of the way.

"He really bailed us out," Southeast pitching coach Jeff Dodson said. "We had trouble pitching most of the weekend, but he pitched really well and showed a lot of composure."

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Southeast Missouri State relief pitcher Lance Rhodes pitched against Austin Peay Saturday at Capaha Field.

Rhodes was one of only two Southeast pitchers not to allow a run Saturday as he worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Called on again the following day, the senior right-hander from Sikeston performed the longest stint of his two-year Southeast career.

Rhodes, who leads the Redhawks in appearances with 16, struck out five and walked two as he improved his record to 2-3. He retired Austin Peay's final seven batters and allowed no hits over the last four innings.

"That's the best outing by Lance since he's been in our program," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Rhodes said he didn't feel particularly good when he entered the game but soon settled into a groove.

"I started off and my arm wasn't feeling that good," he said. "Once I got going I felt a lot better. I was able to locate my fastball really well."

Rhodes, who played his first two seasons at Saint Louis University before transferring to Southeast, has been the Redhawks' most consistent performer out of the bullpen this season.

Rhodes has allowed just 19 hits in 30 1/3 innings while fashioning a solid 3.86 ERA.

"He's done great for us all year," Hogan said.

Sunday's performance by Rhodes was especially timely for Southeast, which was trying to avoid its second series sweep, the other coming at Jacksonville State.

The Redhawks (18-18, 8-8) began the day in seventh place in the 10-team OVC, but moved up to a four-way tie for third.

Defending OVC champion Austin Peay (21-22, 9-9) is also tied for third.

"We've been up and down this year," Rhodes said. "We needed this one."

Southeast fell behind 3-0 after one-half inning, but seemed to have control with an 8-4 lead after three innings.

Austin Peay rallied for a 9-9 tie before Rhodes shut the Govs down.

Then Austin Peay's defense -- generous all weekend as the Govs committed 12 errors, including six on Sunday -- helped Southeast regain the lead for good.

Justin Wheeler led off the seventh by reaching on an error. Nick Harris sacrificed and was safe himself on an error.

With one out and runners on first and third, Zachary Blemker laid down a squeeze bunt.

Wheeler would have been out at home easily, but Austin Peay pitcher Jeff Hughes' throw to the plate was in the dirt and got away as Wheeler scored.

"It was as wild as it gets," Hogan said, not only of Sunday's game but the entire series. "Three one-run games, none of them especially pretty."

Adding to the wildness, Harris -- Southeast's normal shortstop -- ended up saving a double with a nice catch in left field on Austin Peay's leadoff batter in the ninth.

Harris left short after tweaking a knee, then went to center -- where usual second baseman Tony Spencer started because Tyrell Cummings was bothered by a sore leg -- before moving to left in the ninth.

Spencer, Matt Wagner and freshman Blake Slattery from Central High School each had two of Southeast's nine hits. Wagner and Harris both delivered two RBIs.

Cummings, serving as the designated hitter, pushed his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest by a Southeast player this season.