Southeast Missouri State baseball team turns pitchers' duel into rout of UT Martin

Through five and a half innings of Game 2 of the Ohio Valley Conference series between the Southeast Missouri State baseball team and UT Martin on Saturday afternoon it was a battle between two left-handed pitchers.

Redhawks junior Joey Lucchesi and Skyhawks senior Carter Smith were locked in a scoreless tie and waiting for their teammates to get something going against the other offensively at Capaha Field.

Southeast, which had mustered just four hits over the first five innings against Smith, belted four straight hits to start the bottom of the sixth inning and knock the UTM starter out of the game.

The Redhawks scored eight runs in the sixth and added five in the seventh to secure a 13-0 victory over the Skyhawks.

"I thought whoever did score first was going to have the upper hand," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said, "and it was just nice to see us jump out there and really string an inning together, probably like none I've seen since I've been here because it was all done with just hits -- just solid at-bats and guys hitting the ball hard, and they didn't give us anything in that. We earned everything with an offensive approach of hitting the ball."

Second baseman Jason Blum led off the inning with a single to left and accounted for the only run the Redhawks would need after a double by third baseman Andy Lennington.

Ryan Rippee, Dalton Hewitt, Brendon Neel, Scott Mitchell and Clayton Evans also recorded hits in the eight-run inning. Blum, Lennington and Rippee each had two hits apiece as part of 10 hits for the Redhawks.

Southeast Missouri State's Ryan Rippee makes the run to home as the ball is overthrown at third base in the sixth inning against UT Martin Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Glenn Landberg)

"The umpire helped us making him come in the zone, but our strength against him was just seeing him up because he's got a good pitch mix that if he lives low he can be successful all day," Blum said of Smith. "Getting him up in the zone, that was our biggest focus today."

Smith, who entered the game with the fifth-best ERA in Division I baseball at 0.35, exited after 5 1/3 innings and dropped to 1-3 on the season. His six earned runs on 10 hits brought his ERA to 2.03. He struck out three and walked none.

"He was what he was cracked up to be," Bieser said. "We knew he's been dominating people all season long and to give up only four earned runs all season long coming into this game we knew that the game was going to be tight. And it was. It was a really good game."

The Redhawks added to their lead in the seventh. Neel drew a four-pitch leadoff walk and advanced all the way to third on a failed pickoff attempt. He scored on a double by Mitchell.

Pinch hitter Hunter Leeper scored Mitchell on a sacrifice fly, pinch hitter Garrett Gandolfo had a two-RBI double and Hewitt had an RBI single to make it 13-0.

Lucchesi, who made his third start of the season, allowed just two hits in the game in seven innings pitched -- one in each the second and third innings.

Southeast Missouri State's Branden Boggetto catches the ball before throwing to first base in the third inning against UT Marin Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Glenn Landberg)

Southeast's defense did not commit an error and helped the junior transfer from Chabot College.

Hewitt made a leaping catch in deep right field in the top of the fourth inning for the second out of the inning. Lucchesi walked the next batter, who advanced on a wild pitch. A groundout ended the threat.

"I really think the play that Dalton made, at that point in the game that was a game-changer because that's an extra base hit and now we've got to pitch with a runner at least on second base and the score's still 0-0," Bieser said. "That play to me was a huge game-changer. That wasn't an easy play. Dalton made it look pretty smooth, but that was a very difficult play."

Lucchesi retired the last 10 batters he faced, starting with the final out of the fourth.

He struck out seven and walked one.

"He's got three pitches, but he was a four-pitch pitcher because he threw his fastball anywhere he wanted," Bieser said. "He was throwing fastball in with great location, fastball away. His changeup was on and his curveball was on and all three pitches are plus-pitches. He has good arm strength, good velocity and he was just throwing a lot of strikes and when he does that he's typically going to be very effective."

Southeast Missouri State's Garrett Gandolfo congratulates Joey Lucchesi after pitching in the fifth inning against UT Martin Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Glenn Landberg)

Lucchesi only used his fastball and changeup through the first four innings and mixed his curveball in over the final three he pitched.

He and Bieser both noted that he's beginning to understand the preparation it takes in the starting role, which allowed him to remain calm throughout his outing.

"That's how I am," Lucchesi said. "Some pitchers are psyched up. If I'm relaxed then I know it's going to be a good day."

Brady Wright pitched the final two innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out one.

Southeast improved to 12-9 and 6-2 in the OVC while UTM dropped to 4-15 and 2-6 in conference.

The Redhawks will try for their first conference series sweep today against the Skyhawks. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Left-handed pitcher Alex Winkelman will get the start for Southeast.

"This is just a process," said Blum, who went 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. "We're trying to get better day in and day out. We're just sticking to what we know is going to work in the long run."

There will be a free clinic with instruction from Southeast players and coaches for kids ages 5-14 following today's game. Participants are encouraged to bring their own glove.