Southeast Missouri State baseball team powers past UALR

Nothing has come easy for the inexperienced Southeast Missouri State baseball team this season.

Tuesday's game against visiting Arkansas-Little Rock was a prime example, but the Redhawks didn't mind. They simply were happy to claim a much-needed win.

Southeast got home runs from three young players and a strong pitching performance from a junior college transfer making his first Division I start, and held on for a 10-7 victory.

"It was a good team win after we had a couple of tough losses over the weekend [at Wright State]," Southeast sophomore Derek Gibson said.

The Redhawks (7-10) and Trojans (12-5) will close out their two-game series at Capaha Field today with a 3 p.m. first pitch.

Southeast Missouri State's Ryan Barnes celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against Arkansas-Little Rock during the third inning Tuesday at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

"It was nice to get back home, and it was nice to get a win. We needed it," Southeast senior Kody Campbell said. "Any win is a good win, especially against a really good team like that."

Southeast won for just the second time in its last eight contests on an afternoon that featured bright sunshine and temperatures in the 70s.

The Redhawks led 9-2 after six innings and survived a comeback by the Trojans, who made it 9-7 in the eighth inning.

"We played well today. We beat a quality club," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

UALR, which had won seven of its previous eight games, entered the day with a Sun Belt Conference-leading .328 batting average. The Trojans were scoring nearly 10 runs per contest to rank second nationally.

Southeast Missouri State starter Tony Zerrusen pitches to an Arkansas-Little Rock batter during the first inning Tuesday at Capaha Field. Zerrusen pitched five innings and collected his first victory with the Redhawks. (Fred Lynch)

Four Southeast pitchers limited UALR to eight hits and five earned runs. Trojans senior Sean Bignall, who led the nation with nine home runs and 33 RBIs while batting .444 entering the game, was held hitless.

"It was an impressive day by our staff against a really good-hitting club," Hogan said.

Junior Tony Zerrusen, who had pitched just 3 1/3 innings this season after transferring from junior college, won in his first Southeast start.

Zerrusen (1-0) allowed two runs and three hits over five innings. He struck out six, walked one and hit a batter.

"He was outstanding," Hogan said. "I didn't really expect him to go five innings."

Southeast Missouri State’s Derek Gibson hits a two-run home run against Arkansas-Little Rock during the fifth inning.

Zerrusen held the Trojans scoreless for the first four innings before giving up two runs in the fifth.

"I didn't know what to expect, not having had a start yet," said Zerrusen, who had allowed four runs and three hits while walking six over his previous 3 1/3 innings of work. "Getting a start was what I had been thinking of."

Juco transfer Trevor Kill allowed two unearned runs and two hits over two innings.

True freshman left-hander Will Spitzfaden gave up a three-run homer to Greg Garcia in the eighth inning that made it 9-7.

Juco transfer Bobby Hurst relieved Spitzfaden with nobody out in the eighth.

Hurst walked the first batter he faced but recorded the final six outs. He only allowed a ninth-inning single to notch his team-high second save. He struck out three, including Bignall to end the contest.

"He did a great job," Hogan said. "He went through the meat of their order in the ninth inning."

Southeast's 16-hit attack featured two-run homers by true freshman Ryan Barnes and sophomore Derek Gibson, along with a solo shot by redshirt freshman Andy Lennington.

Barnes' third home run of the season, an opposite-field blast to left, highlighted a four-run third inning that made it 5-0.

Gibson's first collegiate homer, to right, capped a four-run fifth inning to help Southeast open a 9-2 advantage. Redshirt freshman Dalton Hewitt had a two-RBI single in that frame.

Lennington's first collegiate home run, to the opposite field in right, came in the eighth inning and put Southeast ahead 10-7.

"It was huge," Hogan said about Lennington's homer. "I was trying to figure in the eighth inning how we could get one more run."

Lennington, who went 3 for 5, also had a double.

Campbell, Barnes, Gibson, sophomore Cole Bieser and senior Taylor Heon all added two hits for the Redhawks.

"It was nice to get [offensive] contributions up and down the lineup," Campbell said.

Two of Southeast's senior standouts continued impressive streaks after recording hits.

All-American Trenton Moses, the OVC's top hitter at .467, has reached base safely in 38 straight games dating back to last year.

Kenton Parmley, batting .418, has a 24-game hitting streak and has reached base safely in 33 straight contests.

Cafalone injured

Southeast received a scare before the contest when assistant coach Chris Cafalone was struck just under his right eye by a ball hit during batting practice.

Cafalone was felled after throwing to a Southeast hitter in the batting cages at Capaha Field.

"It was a freaky thing," Hogan said. "The ball, after it was hit, hit an iron post that holds the net. It caromed off the post and hit him."

Cafalone was taken to a local hospital for examination. He was cleared to return for the game and was able to resume his normal third-base coaching duties.

Cafalone, who sported a black eye and plenty of swelling under the eye, maintained his sense of humor after the game.

"Ten runs, 16 hits ... I feel good," said Cafalone, who serves as Southeast's hitting coach.