Redhawks try to retain hold on first at UTM

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has bolstered its first-place Ohio Valley Conference record by thriving at home the last two weekends.

Now the Redhawks (20-12, 7-2 OVC) hope to have similar success on the road in their next two conference series.

First up is a three-game set at Tennessee-Martin (16-16, 1-5). There will be a 1 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. contest Sunday.

"We've played really well at home, but I think we can also play well on the road," junior right fielder Louie Haseltine said.

Southeast is 17-3 at Capaha Field, including 5-1 in OVC games. But away from Cape Girardeau, the Redhawks are just 3-9. That includes a 3-7 mark in true road games and an 0-2 ledger in neutral-site contests.

The Redhawks did take two of three at Morehead State in their only OVC road series.

"It's only three games, but we showed we can play well on the road against Morehead," said senior catcher Jim Klocke, whose current 20-game hitting streak is the longest by an OVC player this year.

The Redhawks lead a trio of squads tied for second place -- Jacksonville State, Murray State and Eastern Kentucky -- by one game in the league standings.

While pleased to be in first place, Southeast coach Mark Hogan realizes there are 15 more OVC games to be played.

"It's so early right now. I'm pleased with what we've done, but we have to keep doing it," Hogan said. "There is a long way to go before anything is decided."

Southeast, while winning 14 of its last 18 games, has lost two straight, including Wednesday's 9-6 nonconference defeat at Arkansas State.

UTM, tied for last place in the OVC, has won four of its last five after losing six straight.

The Skyhawks, perennial OVC doormats, were improved last season, and they appear to have continued that trend.

"I know they feel good about their club and they're expecting more [in the OVC] than they've gotten so far," Hogan said.

UTM ranks eighth in the nine-team OVC with a .298 team batting average and eighth in runs scored with 218.

The Skyawks are fourth in the league with a 6.68 ERA and tied for fifth with a .957 fielding percentage.

The Skyhawks have five regulars hitting better than .300, led by junior Trey Karlen (.408) and senior Ty Nelson (.391). They rank seventh and 10th in the OVC, respectively.

UTM has the second-most stolen bases in the conference, with 61 thefts in 78 attempts. Karlen is second with 22 in 26 attempts.

The Skyhawks have not had a set starting rotation during conference play, but they feature two of the OVC's top relievers in freshman Dan Tobik and junior Wes Alsup.

Tobik leads the league with a 2.50 ERA primarily out of the bullpen, although he has made two starts. He is 2-1.

Alsup, UTM's closer, is 1-0 with seven saves. He has a 2.92 ERA.

"Martin has some decent arms and they've got nine tough outs in their lineup," Hogan said. "It's not going to be an easy weekend for us."

Southeast continues to lead the league with a .355 batting average after entering the week fifth nationally in that department. Eight of the Redhawks' nine regulars are above .300.

"We've never slowed down offensively," said Hogan, whose squad is hitting .398 against OVC opponents.

Junior third baseman Casey Jones is second in the OVC in hitting at .453, while junior left fielder Michael Adamson is fifth at .413. Also in the top 15 are Klocke (13th, .371) and junior center fielder Blake Slattery (15th, .363).

Just outside that group is sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley (.360) and Haseltine (.355), fourth in the league in home runs with 13.

Klocke has a .489 average in conference play, while also at .400 or better are Adamson (.474), Parmley (.439), Haseltine (.410), Jones (.400) and Slattery (.400).

The Redhawks are second in the OVC with a 6.11 ERA and second with a .960 fielding percentage.

Southeast's pitching has not been as sharp in recent weeks as the ERA in conference games is 8.03.

Southeast will use its normal conference starting rotation of senior Kyle Gumieny (6-0, 5.47) in Saturday's nine-inning opener, junior Logan Mahon (2-1, 5.85) in the seven-inning nightcap and junior Jordan Underwood (3-3, 4.46) in Sunday's nine-inning series finale.

Gumieny is tied for the league lead in wins while Underwood is sixth in ERA.

The Redhawks also have an elite closer in freshman Shae Simmons. He is 3-0 with four saves and a 1.40 ERA that would lead the league if he had enough innings to qualify.

Simmons has allowed just four hits in 19 1/3 innings while striking out 24 and walking 11.

"We've gotten some pretty good starting pitching and Shae has been fantastic, but we've still got to find some more arms," Hogan said.