Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Hogan reels in win No. 500 over weekend

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Mark Hogan celebrated two milestones Friday as the Redhawks swept a doubleheader from visiting Eastern Illinois.

One is personal and the other professional. Both mean the world to him.

Hogan recorded his 500th win at Southeast courtesy of the 9-6 second-game victory on the day that he and his wife Becky celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary.

"It's special," said Hogan, who improved to 501-418-1 in his 17th season at his alma mater following Saturday's 8-7 triumph that ended the regular season. "I'm thrilled to do it with these guys.

"Those double zeros, it takes a while to get to the next one."

Southeast coach Mark Hogan watches the action during Friday's doubleheader. (Laura Simon)

Hogan was doused by his players with a bucket of water moments after Friday's win that marked victory No. 500.

"It was awesome," junior third baseman Trenton Moses said. "We knew he needed two more today, so we talked about it. He didn't see it coming. We got him good."

Hogan, who became the winningest baseball coach in school history in 2007, clinched his ninth season with at least 30 victories at the university. Southeast never had accomplished that before Hogan took over.

Hogan, who was recognized on the field before Saturday's game, has led Southeast to a league-record 17 straight Ohio Valley Conference tournament appearances, including tournament titles in 1998 and 2002 to go along with an OVC regular-season championship in 2002.

"I'm just thrilled our program has had the success we've had, but when you get down to it, it's all about the players," said Hogan, a Cape Girardeau native who attended Central High School. "This whole thing has been a total blessing for me and my family, to have the opportunity to coach where I grew up and where I graduated from.

"I thank God for Southeast Missouri State to allow me to represent them. I feel blessed."

The same goes for his union with Becky. The couple has three daughters.

"I married the most wonderful person in the world and I've got a great family," Hogan said. "I'm very fortunate."

Moving up the charts

Louie Haseltine and Shae Simmons both moved up on Southeast's career records lists during Friday's doubleheader. Logan Mahon did likewise Saturday.

Haseltine, a senior right fielder, hit his 32nd career home run, tying him for seventh place.

Simmons, a sophomore relief pitcher from Scott City, notched his 10th career save in the nightcap, tying him for second place.

Simmons is just three away from the all-time mark of 13 held by Brad Smith.

Mahon, a senior left-hander who has been the Redhawks' relief ace, recorded his eighth save of the season and eighth of his two-year Southeast career after being a starter in 2010.

Mahon is tied for second in single-season saves and tied for fourth in career saves.

Back from injury

Senior reliever Corey Harness, who missed several weeks with an elbow problem, returned to action during Friday's opener, a 9-5 win.

Harness entered the series carrying Southeast's top ERA of 0.87 although in just 10 1/3 innings.

That mark went up to 3.38 after Harness was charged with three runs in the ninth inning. He retired just one batter and allowed only one hit but walked three.

"It was good to get him back out there," Hogan said. "He could be really important for us in the [OVC] tournament."