Southeast Missouri State baseball team provides thunder before storm

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team provided plenty of lightning strikes before the real fireworks began.

The Redhawks belted four home runs and five doubles among 18 hits, slugging their way to a weather-shortened 13-7 victory over visiting Arkansas State on Tuesday night.

Action was stopped with two outs in the top of the eighth inning when a tornado warning was issued for Cape Girardeau.

Players and coaches on both sides hurriedly left Capaha Field and it wasn't long before torrential rain fell.

"It was bizarre," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "I think everybody did the right thing by calling the game at that point. I'm glad we could get most of it in."

Not even Mother Nature can slow down the Redhawks these days.

Southeast extended its season-long winning streak to seven and moved a season-high nine games above the .500 mark at 23-14 after its second victory of the year over the Red Wolves (17-23) from the Sun Belt Conference.

"We're happy to get it in," junior Trenton Moses said. "It's great any time you can keep winning and keep the streak going."

The Redhawks and Red Wolves, taking advantage of a strong wind blowing out to right field, combined for six home runs, although two of Southeast's were to left.

Moses did the most damage for Southeast, homering once to left and once to right. He took the team home run lead with six. The Redhawks increased their Ohio Valley Conference-leading homer total to 34.

"I think a few of the home runs were wind aided. My first one for sure," Moses said.

Moses, from Advance High School, drove in six runs to match the career high he set just a week ago during a win at SIU-Carbondale. He also leads Southeast with 34 RBIs and pushed his batting average to .364.

"He continues to have a tremendous year," said Hogan, whose squad needed a ninth-inning rally to beat ASU 8-5 on April 5 in Jonesboro, Ark.

Also leaving the park for Southeast were senior Ky Burgess and junior Kenton Parmley. The second homer of the season for Burgess went to left field while Parmley's fourth was to right. Burgess and Parmley also both doubled.

Moses and Parmley both went 3 for 4. Parmley had three RBIs.

Matching Burgess with two hits were Blake Slattery from Central High School, Michael Adamson, Brett Russell and Casey Jones. All are seniors.

"We hit the ball so well. I was really impressed with our offense," Hogan said.

Southeast scuffled offensively for a good part of the year but has been on a roll for a while.

The Redhawks have their batting average up to .315. Eleven players who see significant action are above .300.

"It's not just one guy or a couple guys. A lot of guys are banging it around," Hogan said.

The first of Jordan Castaldo's two home runs -- both massive bombs to right that probably didn't need help from the wind -- was a three-run shot in the opening inning off senior Nick Thomas, helping ASU grab a 3-0 lead.

Southeast also trailed 4-2 before taking control with a five-run second inning featuring a leadoff homer to left by Burgess and a three-run shot to right by Moses that broke a 4-4 tie.

"We were able to answer," Hogan said.

ASU got within two runs twice but Moses' two-run homer to left-center in the sixth inning made it 11-7, and the Redhawks tacked on two more runs in the seventh.

Senior Josh Syberg (2-1), the second of four Southeast pitchers, notched the victory. He allowed two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Shae Simmons from Scott City continued his recent dominant work with 1 2/3 shutout innings.

Freshman Christian Hull also remained solid by retiring two batters in the eighth before the contest was called.

"Shae came in and settled it down. He continues to look sharp," Hogan said. "Josh gave us some help after Nick got touched up a little bit."

Southeast, tied for first in the OVC at 7-4, hosts preseason conference favorite Jacksonville State on Friday and Saturday.