Southeast scores 16 in opener, drops nightcap 15-3

CHARLESTON, Ill. — Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Illinois exchanged a pair of lopsided victories Saturday in an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader.

The Redhawks and host Panthers will meet at 1 p.m. today to decide the baseball series.

Southeast romped in Saturday's nine-inning opener 16-7. EIU gained a split by rolling 15-3 in the seven-inning nightcap.

The Redhawks (19-19, 9-9) and Panthers (19-24, 10-10) began the day in a four-way tie for third place in the 10-team OVC.

Pending the outcome of a night game involving Austin Peay, Southeast and EIU fell into a three-way tie for fourth place. The top six finishers make the OVC tournament.

Southeast banged out 14 hits in the opener, which it led 16-2 before EIU scored five meaningless runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Jim Klocke went 3-for-5 with five RBIs. Freshman Trenton Moses from Advance High School went 3-for-6 and hit his second home run of the season.

Matt Wagner and Zachary Blemker both added two hits for the Redhawks. Andrew Wiese, a late-game insertion, belted a three-run homer in the ninth inning, his second of the year. Moses added a two-run shot in the same frame.

Southeast ace pitcher Dustin Renfrow snapped a personal three-game losing streak with 7 1/3 strong innings.

Renfrow (4-4) allowed seven hits and two runs. He struck out six and walked three.

Freshman Brad LaBruyere from Central High School allowed five runs, four earned, and five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

EIU enjoyed most of the offense in the nightcap, getting 15 hits compared to seven for Southeast.

Klocke and Wiese both had two of Southeast's hits.

Lance Rhodes, who has been Southeast's top reliever, made his first start of the season, and his first career OVC start.

Rhodes (2-4) took the loss, allowing three runs and four hits in two-plus innings. He struck out three and walked three.

The Panthers battered Southeast's bullpen. Ryan Poole gave up five run, four earned, and six hits in two innings, while Josh Syberg — a conference starter much of the season — allowed seven runs and five hits in 1 2/3 innings.

EIU led 6-0 after three innings. The Panthers, ahead 8-3, broke the contest open with a seven-run sixth.

Tyrell Cummings had a hit in each contest to extend his hitting streak to 18 games, the longest by a Southeast player this season.