SIU wields even hotter bats than Redhawks

~ Southeast smashed six HRs in a 16-11 loss to the streaking Salukis

Southeast Missouri State's red-hot offense held up its end of the bargain Tuesday.

But the Redhawks finally ran into a baseball team that could keep up with them offensively, which led to a rare recent loss.

Southern Illinois University-Carbondale outlasted the Redhawks 16-11 in a wild nonconference game at wind-blown Capaha Field that took 3 hours, 20 minutes.

"We both kind of hit it around," junior right fielder Louie Haseltine said. "But they had the upper hand."

Southeast fell to 18-10 as the Redhawks had their four-game winning streak snapped and lost for just the second time in 14 contests. They also were beaten for just the second time in 17 home games.

SIU improved to 15-14. The Salukis have won six straight for their longest streak in three years. SIU, 4-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, has won 10 of 12.

"We just didn't pitch well enough. Give them credit. They banged the ball," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad is tied for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference at 5-1. "We get 18 hits, score 11 runs and don't commit an error. That's good enough most days.

"Two of the three parts were working, but they've got a good hitting team, one of the best we've gone up against this year. It seems like every mistake we made they hammered."

The Redhawks entered play sixth nationally with a .355 batting average that leads the OVC.

SIU also leads its league in batting, but with a .317 average. The Salukis, however, outhit the Redhawks 19-18.

"It was a really good hitters day today," Southeast infielder Casey Jones said.

Southeast, which saw its average climb to .357, out-homered SIU 6 to 1, but five of those long balls by the Redhawks were solo shots. SIU had six doubles compared to two for Southeast.

Jones, a junior college transfer, continued to lead Southeast's offense as he went 4 for 4 with two homers and five RBIs. He also walked twice.

Jones, who entered the day second in the OVC and 36th nationally with a .437 average, boosted that mark to .462.

"I'm just trying to keep the same approach I've had all season," said Jones, who saw hardly any action early in the year before moving into the lineup following the season-ending shoulder injury to junior third baseman Trenton Moses. "I'm just trying to get good swings on the ball."

Jones has been a mainstay at third base since Moses' injury, although he saw his initial action of the year at first base Tuesday as Hogan adjusted his lineup to get some at-bats for juco transfer Ky Burgess, who recently returned from an injury.

Jones made several nice plays at first before moving back to third in the seventh inning.

"I mostly played first base in junior college, so I was comfortable there. I like it," Jones said.

Haseltine got his team-leading 10th home run of the season. Haseltine, who had three hits, has a homer in eight of the past 10 games.

Juco transfer left fielder Michael Adamson and sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley both had three hits, including a homer, and two RBIs. Adamson also doubled, his OVC-leading 16th. He is batting .418.

Sophomore backup catcher Jesse Tierney hit his first home run of the season and only the second of his Southeast career.

Senior catcher Jim Klocke, who started at third base before moving behind the plate, added two hits. He extended his hitting streak to 16 games.

SIU got four hits, including a homer and two doubles, from junior Blake Pinnon from nearby Wolf Lake, Ill. He had four RBIs. Chris Serritella also had four hits, including three doubles.

Junior right-hander Corey Harness (1-2) took the loss, allowing six hits and five runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Four hurlers followed Harness to the mound. Only senior right-hander Kirk Boeller emerged unscathed as he worked a scoreless ninth. The Notre Dame Regional High School product has not allowed a run in two innings this season.

Jones' three-run homer in the first inning gave Southeast a 3-0 lead, but SIU went ahead for good with a three-run third that made it 5-3. A seven-run fifth put the Salukis on top 14-6 and they held off the Redhawks.

"It was one of those days. We know we're not going to win every game," Haseltine said.

Southeast resumes league play this weekend with a three-game home series against defending OVC tournament champion Tennessee Tech.