Southeast salvages split

Anthony Maupin wishes he would have more chances to finish off Southeast Missouri State doubleheader sweeps.

Instead, Maupin's work has helped the Redhawks avoid several potential doubleheader sweeps.

Maupin, a senior right-hander, did that again Saturday, pitching the Redhawks past visiting Austin Peay 8-4 in the second game of an Ohio Valley Conference twin bill. The Governors won the opener 7-4.

The Redhawks (15-21, 6-8) and Govs (22-17, 6-8) will finish off their three-game series at 1 p.m. today at Capaha Field. The squads are tied for seventh place in the 10-team OVC, but they are just one game out of third place.

"We need it tomorrow so we can get up on this team," Maupin said.

Maupin helped give the Redhawks an opportunity to win the series, as he carried a shutout into the final frame of the seven-inning nightcap.

Two errors helped the Govs score four unearned run and ruined Maupin's chance of a fifth straight OVC complete game, but Josh Parham recorded the final two outs for his second save of the season.

"I wanted to get the [complete] game in," Maupin said. "I had some bad luck and I just got tired, but the main thing is we won."

Maupin (5-3) allowed eight hits in 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and two walks. He is 4-1 in OVC games, the lone loss being a 2-1 decision at Tennessee-Martin in Southeast's first conference series.

Maupin has pitched victories in the nightcaps of Southeast's last three OVC doubleheaders after the Redhawks dropped the openers.

It would be nice to try and finish off sweeps, acknowledged Maupin.

"But if you lose the first one, you have to get the next one to salvage a split and hopefully win the series the next day," he said.

Maupin has benefited from solid run support during his conference starts, save for that Tennessee-Martin game. In Maupin's other four league starts, Southeast has scored five, eight, seven and eight runs.

"Having runs helps you relax," Maupin said.

Said Southeast coach Mark Hogan: "Anthony has been great in that seven-inning role. You couldn't ask much more than the performance he gave us today.

"It's a shame he couldn't get another complete game. But he pitched very well, and Josh keeps doing the job in relief."

The Redhawks knocked out OVC ERA leader Shawn Kelley, who entered with a stingy 1.69 mark but exited in the fourth inning after allowing 10 hits and five runs.

Andy Johnson had three of the Redhawks' 12 hits, while Omar Padilla and Aaron Rave added two each. Phillip Riley drove in two runs.

Redhawks drop opener

In the nine-inning opener, senior right-hander Jamie McAlister continued to be a tough-luck pitcher as his record fell to 4-7 despite having the best ERA (4.40) among Southeast's starters.

McAlister threw his third complete game, but one bad inning did him in as the Govs scored five runs on four hits in the seventh to erase a 2-1 deficit. McAlister gave up 12 hits, with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Senior left-hander Rowdy Hardy, last season's OVC pitcher of the year, went the first 7 1/3 innings for the win. Hardy allowed eight hits and three earned runs. Brad Daniel recorded the final five outs for his fifth save.

Hardy improved to 7-2 and tied the OVC career wins mark with 30.

"Jamie was wonderful. He pitched well enough to win, but it's tough when you're facing everybody's No. 1," Hogan said. "Hardy was tremendous."

Padilla had two of Southeast's eight first-game hits, giving him four on the day. Jordan Payne added two hits in the opener.

Austin Peay, which matched Southeast with 20 hits on the day, received six from Jacob Schroeder, who went 4-for-4 in the nightcap. He had four RBIs in the two games.

Govs senior left fielder Ryan Kane hit safely in both contests, pushing his hitting streak to 35 straight games, which is the nation's longest current streak.

Kane also tied former Southeast star Kerry Robinson for the second-longest hitting streak in OVC history.

Today the Redhawks will go for just their second OVC series victory of the season.

"No ifs, ands or buts, we have to win tomorrow," Padilla said. "We can't just keep talking about it, we have to do it."