Southeast Missouri State baseball team stays perfect with rout of Harris-Stowe

~ The Southeast baseball team improved to 4-0 with a 12-1 win over the NAIA school

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team, coming off a big opening-weekend performance, was on a mission to guard against a letdown.

Mission accomplished in a big way.

Southeast rolled past visiting Harris-Stowe State 12-1 Tuesday afternoon as the Redhawks opened a nine-game homestand.

An announced crowd of 325 at Capaha Field braved the cold, windy conditions to see the Redhawks improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1995.

Alex Winkelman pitches to a Harris-Stowe batter during Tuesday’s game at Capaha Field. Winkelman was the winning pitcher in the Redhawks’ 12-1 victory. (WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to Southeast Missourian)

The Hornets, an NAIA squad from St. Louis, fell to 0-7. The game was stopped in the bottom of the seventh inning on the 10-run mercy rule that was suggested by Harris-Stowe before the contest.

"After going 3-0, you don't want to overlook anybody," sophomore first baseman Andy Lennigton said. "We just have to play our game no matter who the opponent is."

That was the message first-year interim coach Steve Bieser gave to his players after Southeast won three games at New Orleans over the weekend for the program's first three-game series sweep to start a season since 2001.

"You never take anybody lightly. You have to respect everybody and come ready to play," Bieser said. "We took care of business. I was pleased with the way we played."

Southeast was solid in all phases against the overmatched Hornets, who lost to the Redhawks for the 18th straight time and trail the all-time series 20-2.

"No matter who we're playing, we just want to play within our system every game," junior center fielder Cole Bieser said.

The Redhawks had 15 hits, led by Bieser. He went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs.

"It's nice to be 4-0," Cole Bieser said.

Lennington had two hits, including his second triple of the season, and delivered three RBIs.

Sophomore third baseman Jason Blum had two hits, including a double, and scored three runs.

Also getting two hits were both sophomore catcher Dalton Hewitt and true freshman second baseman Branden Boggetto, who doubled.

A pair of pinch-hitters -- sophomore Ryan Barnes and junior college transfer Tyler Mikrut -- delivered two-run singles in the seventh inning when Southeast went up 12-1 to end things via the mercy rule.

"I thought a sign we were ready to play, guys came off the bench and were productive," Steve Bieser said.

Three Southeast pitchers combined on a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

True freshman left-hander Alex Winkelman worked the first three innings and received credit for the win since Southeast had designated before the game that it would be using several hurlers.

Winkelman (2-0), who notched a victory in relief at New Orleans, allowed two hits and a run in the first inning. He struck out seven and walked one.

"I thought Alex really settled in after the first inning," Bieser said.

Winkelman, who struck out the side in each of the first two innings, was excited to get his first Southeast start.

But he's certainly no stranger to Capaha Field. The Crystal City (Mo.) High School graduate pitched several times at Capaha the past few summers while playing for the powerhouse Festus American Legion team.

"I've definitely been on that mound before," Winkelman said with a smile. "It was definitely exciting. It was a big deal to get the first one [start] under my belt."

Although the slender Winkelman might some day be overpowering as he matures physically, he isn't at that stage yet -- but he has 10 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

"I don't know if I'll be a strikeout pitcher or not," he said. "I thought my fastball had really good velocity today, and I was able to mix in offspeed."

Senior Tony Zerrusen struck out one and walked one in two hitless innings.

Juco transfer lefty Skylar Cobb, a Scott City High School graduate, had his second scoreless outing of the season. He worked the final two innings, allowing two hits while striking out two and walking one.

"Skylar's a competitor. He's going to have a key role in this bullpen," Bieser said.

After the Hornets went ahead 1-0 in the opening inning, Southeast took the lead for good with two runs in its half of the first. The Redhawks got four in the second inning, two in the sixth and four in the seventh.

Junior Caleb Hosey, a Jackson High School graduate, took the loss on the mound for the Hornets. He went six innings, allowing 10 hits and eight runs, five earned. He struck out two and walked one.

Southeast is back in action today, hosting Mid-Continent (3-5) at 3 p.m. The NAIA squad from Mayfield, Ky., upset the Redhawks 10-9 last year in Cape Girardeau.

Tellor eligible

It was a good day all around for Southeast, which learned that junior first baseman Matt Tellor is eligible.

That was the assumption the university was under all along, but it took until Tuesday for the NCAA to finally clear the touted transfer from Lindenwood University.

Tellor was named the Prospect League player of the year and co-top prospect during the summer, when the 6-foot-5, 210-pound switch-hitter batted .341 with 18 homers and 66 RBIs in the collegiate wood-bat league.

"It's great news for this ballclub, but the biggest thing for me is I'm happy for him," Bieser said.

Bieser said Tellor will be in the lineup today for his Southeast debut.