Redhawks use muscle in 13-1 win vs. Lions

~ Southeast belted three home runs in its home victory against NAIA Freed-Hardeman

Southeast Missouri State has not established itself as a big home-run hitting team so far this season.

But lately the Redhawks have displayed increased power and that continued Tuesday during a 13-1 rout of visiting Freed-Hardeman.

The Redhawks banged three homers at spacious Capaha Field as they finally got back to the .500 mark.

Southeast, 8-8 overall, is 4-1 on its 10-game homestand. The Lions, an NAIA squad from Henderson, Tenn., are 13-8.

"It's always good to have that power in there," said junior center fielder Blake Slattery, who hit one of the homers.

The Redhawks had just three home runs in their first 12 games but have seven in their last four contests.

"I felt we could do that sort of thing," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We did it in the fall."

Sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley and reserve junior outfielder Greg Dambach joined Slattery in getting their first home runs of the season.

None of the homers was more rewarding than Dambach's three-run shot to left field in the seventh inning that capped the day's scoring.

Dambach has seen little action during his Southeast career partly due to injuries. He entered Tuesday's game 0 for 1 on the year and 1 for 11 in his career. The lone hit was a double during his freshman year in 2007.

Dambach redshirted in 2008 because of elbow surgery and again did not see action last year due to back surgery.

Dambach entered Tuesday's contest in the sixth inning with Southeast ahead 9-1. He struck out in his first at-bat before drilling his first career homer in the seventh. He also recorded his first RBIs.

"It feels good to be able to get out there after the injuries I've had. I feel thankful," Dambach said. "It's good to make a contribution."

Of the home run, Dambach said: "It felt great. I thought I got it pretty good. The guys were giving me a good little time in the dugout."

Said Hogan: "I'm thrilled for him. He's worked really hard and had a good fall. He hasn't gotten the opportunities, but it was great to see."

Slattery lofted a two-run homer to left as part of Southeast's seven-run third inning that broke open things. The Central High School product had two hits as he continued his strong season.

Slattery is third on the squad with a .378 average after he was limited to just 13 at-bats last year partly due to back problems that also plagued him during a promising freshman campaign.

"I hurt my back the fall of my freshman year but I tried to play with it," said Slattery, who had two homers as a freshmen in 2008. "I don't even feel it anymore. I think being healthy is a big key."

Said Hogan: "Blake has a lot of tools. He's finally healthy now and what he's doing doesn't surprise me. I'm really happy for him."

Parmley's homer was a sixth-inning solo shot off the scoreboard in left field. He had two hits, as did sophomore first baseman Kody Campbell from Oran, Mo., and junior college transfer DH Casey Jones. Southeast finished with 11 hits.

Jones has a 10-game hitting streak, the longest by a Southeast player this season, as he is batting a team-high .488.

Southeast also received stellar pitching as five hurlers combined on a four-hitter.

Juco transfer Nick Thomas (2-0), making his first Southeast start, worked five innings for the win. He allowed three hits and a run while striking out five.

"The first couple innings I felt a little shaky but then I settled in and felt good," Thomas said.

Juco transfers Jon Dicus, Jacob Wente and Trent Wise all fired a perfect inning. Freshman Shae Simmons from Scott City finished up by allowing a hit in the ninth.

Southeast pitchers, plagued by walks this season, did not issue a free pass.

"He [Thomas] had a great start and everybody else threw well," said Hogan, whose squad did not commit an error. "It was a really good game for us all the way around."

Southeast begins a three-game series against Valparaiso at 3 p.m. Friday.