Southeast Missouri State baseball team claims second consecutive OVC series

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team continued its resurgence Sunday with a 14-2 romp at Tennessee-Martin.

Southeast, which fell to the Skyhawks 5-4 on Friday before rolling 13-1 on Saturday, posted its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series win after the Redhawks had lost their first four OVC series.

The Redhawks (16-29, 7-11) have won eight of their last 13 games after previously dropping 14 of 15.

"We've had a lot of ups and downs this year, but more ups now," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We're really playing a lot better."

Southeast moved into a seventh-place tie in the 10-team conference. The Redhawks are tied for sixth for OVC tournament purposes since SIU Edwardsville is not eligible for the event this year. The top six finishers qualify for the tournament.

Southeast Missouri State outfielder Derek Gibson blasts a three-run home run against Tennessee-Martin during the fourth inning Sunday in Martin, Tenn. Gibson had two home runs and seven RBIs in the Redhawks’ 14-2 victory. Gibson also has a 29-game hitting streak. (WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

Last-place UTM (11-32, 5-13) has lost 16 of 19.

"I was proud of the way we played this weekend," said Hogan, whose squad did not commit an error in the series. "It was maybe our best weekend of the season."

Southeast, after getting 15 hits and four home runs Saturday, banged out 17 more hits Sunday and tied a season high with five homers.

Sophomore left fielder Derek Gibson concluded a monster weekend and extended his hitting streak to 29 games in the process.

Gibson pounded a pair of three-run homers Sunday, giving him seven home runs this season. Both homers came after intentional walks to All-American senior third baseman Trenton Moses.

Gibson finished 4 for 5 with seven RBIs. He had 10 hits, including three homers, and 13 RBIs in the series.

"He's been amazing," Hogan said.

Also leaving the park Sunday were Moses, redshirt freshman center fielder Andy Lennington and true freshman DH Ryan Barnes.

Moses leads the OVC with 17 home runs. Lennington has three this season and Barnes four.

Moses has reached base safely in a school-record 65 consecutive games.

Senior shortstop Kenton Parmley had two hits, giving him 286 for his career and placing him one hit shy of the Southeast record held by Jeremy Johnson.

Moses, Barnes and senior catcher Jesse Tierney also had two hits apiece. Moses walked three times and scored four runs.

Senior first baseman Kody Campbell drew four of the nine walks issued by UTM pitchers.

"Our bats came alive this weekend," Hogan said.

Junior college transfer Dylan Lynn had another strong pitching performance in his second OVC start.

Lynn worked seven innings Sunday to improve to 4-0. He allowed two runs and six hits, with four strikeouts and three walks.

Lynn hurled a complete game during a 3-1 win over Tennessee Tech a week earlier.

"He really pitched well. He built on last week's outing," Hogan said.

Juco transfer left-hander Ryan Kendall pitched a perfect eighth inning with one strikeout. Senior left-hander Ryan Prickett allowed two hits in the ninth. He struck out two.

Moses gave Southeast a 1-0 lead with a two-out home run in the first inning.

UTM went ahead 2-1 with two runs on three hits in the second inning. But that was about the extent of the good news for the Skyhawks.

Gibson's first three-run homer of the day came with two outs in the third inning and put Southeast on top 4-2.

The Redhawks broke things open with six runs in the fourth inning to make it 10-2. Gibson belted his second three-run homer and Lennington added a two-run shot.

Southeast tacked on a fifth-inning run and concluded the day's scoring with three runs in the sixth inning that included Barnes' leadoff homer.

The Redhawks continue their stretch of eight consecutive road games with a nonconference matchup against Saint Louis University at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The Billikens beat the Redhawks 22-11 on March 6 in Cape Girardeau.