Southeast foiled by backup catcher's home run in the final inning

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- A walk-off home run by a backup catcher hitting well under .200 prevented Southeast Missouri State from a shot at its first Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader sweep of the year.

After the Redhawks (13-20, 4-7) won Saturday's opener 6-4, Jeremy Cabbage drilled a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning of the nightcap to provide host Austin Peay (20-14, 6-5) a 5-3 victory.

The squads will complete their three-game series at 1 p.m. today, as Southeast shoots for its first OVC series win of the season.

Cabbage entered play Saturday batting .154 with one home run. After pinch-hitting in the opener, he received a start in the nightcap -- a move that paid off.

After an infield single and a sacrifice bunt to start the bottom of the seventh, Cabbage nailed an 0-1 pitch from Joey Evans over the right-field fence to end the contest.

Evans (5-4), a freshman who had won his last four decisions, struggled some early, allowing three runs in the first three innings. But he then blanked the Govs until the winning homer. In 6 1/3 innings, Evans allowed eight hits, with five strikeouts and no walks.

Evans had surrendered a two-run home run by Jared Walker in the first inning.

Southeast had six hits, led by Frankie Montiel and Freddy Lopez with two each.

Perhaps the key play of the game took place in the top of the fifth. Trailing 3-1, Southeast had runners on second and third with two outs when Jordan Payne sent a line drive to center field, where Cody Youngblood made a diving catch.

The Redhawks still managed to forge a 3-3 tie with two sixth-inning runs, setting the stage for Cabbage's heroics.

In the opener, the Redhawks reached Austin Peay ace left-hander Rowdy Hardy for five hits and five runs in the first inning. Southeast was able to make that explosion stand up.

Hardy (6-4) entered the contest with a string of 22 consecutive scoreless innings and an OVC-leading 1.93 earned-run average.

Brady Noll, who came into the game on a 9-for-18 tear, had a two-run single in the opening frame, while Brent Lawson, Eric Horstman and Bo Jenkins all added RBI singles.

Hardy settled down and pitched all nine innings, allowing 11 hits. He struck out nine and walked three.

Southeast left-hander Derek Herbig (2-2) was the winner, allowing eight hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts and three walks.

Jamie McAlister notched his second save of the season with 2 2/3 hitless innings. He fanned one and walked none, although he did hit two batters.

Payne led Southeast with three hits and Montiel added two. Montiel went 4-for-7 on the day. Ernie Bracamonte had a hit in each contest as he extended his hitting streak to 15 games.

Southeast did not commit an error in either game.