Southeast squeaks out split vs. Govs

Michael Adamson was eager to make up for his fifth-inning error that helped Austin Peay score the tying run in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader.

Adamson didn't have to wait long.

Adamson, Southeast Missouri State's junior left fielder, drilled a home run leading off the bottom of the sixth inning that lifted the host Redhawks to a 2-1 win in the seven-inning contest.

That allowed Southeast to salvage a split after Austin Peay took the nine-inning opener 8-4.

It also allowed the Redhawks to regain a bit of traction after they had lost six of their previous seven games, although three of the defeats were nonconference.

Southeast Missouri State's Jim Klocke hits a single during the sixth inning of the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Austin Peay at Capaha Field. (KRISTIN EBERTS ~ keberts@semissourian.com<B>)

"Wins have been hard to come by lately," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose team is 28-21 overall and a third-place 11-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. "It's been a rough go for us."

It was a rough go for Adamson in the top of the fifth inning as he dropped a one-out fly ball near the warning track.

Although the play was not routine, it correctly was ruled a two-base error and led to an unearned run that allowed last-place Austin Peay (24-24, 5-12) to forge a 1-1 tie.

"I should have had it. Hands down, 100 percent," Adamson said. "But one thing I take pride in, I might not be the biggest guy or the strongest guy or the fastest guy, but I'm going to compete.

"I knew I would have another at-bat to help the team out."

Michael Adamson

That at-bat came leading off the bottom of the sixth and Adamson ripped a no-doubt blast well over the left-field wall.

It was the sixth homer of the season for Adamson, a junior college transfer batting .404 to rank among the OVC's leaders.

"We really needed this win," said Adamson, who had two of Southeast's five second-game hits.

Southeast's high-powered offense that has been on fire most of the season has hit a lull lately.

The Redhawks, who entered the weekend averaging more than eight runs per game and ranked sixth nationally with a .351 average, have scored just 17 runs in their past five contests. They managed only 14 hits in Saturday's doubleheader.

"We're not swinging it and not playing very well defensively right now, but I think we'll be fine," Adamson said.

Hogan, whose squad fell 1 1/2 games behind first-place Murray State and one game behind second-place Tennessee Tech with four contests remaining, also is not overly concerned.

"You're not going to hit .359 as a team all year, every game," said Hogan, whose club was at that lofty figure not very long ago. "What we were doing for a while was not very normal. This is more normal.

"But I saw some signs that we're going to come out of it."

Hogan credited Austin Peay's starting hurlers. Left-hander Stephen Huff allowed six hits and one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of the opener. Ricky Marshall gave up five hits in working all six innings of the nightcap.

"Huff is a veteran. You know he's going to throw well," Hogan said.

Austin Peay threatened in the top of the seventh of the second game, putting a runner on second base with two outs.

Junior first baseman Brett Russell made a nice scoop of a low throw after a ground ball as senior Kyle Gumieny (8-1) notched the victory by working the final two innings in shutout fashion, allowing three hits.

Freshman Shae Simmons pitched the first five innings, giving up two hits and the unearned run.

"Both guys threw outstanding," Hogan said.

Austin Peay scored five second-inning runs in the opener and never looked back. The Govs led 8-0 through 5 1/2 innings.

Southeast scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth, only one earned. Austin Peay's bullpen then closed out things.

Junior Nick Thomas (6-2) allowed eight hits and eight runs, six earned, in 5 1/3 innings. Junior Trent Wise was strong in relief with three shutout frames.

Sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley had three of Southeast's nine first-game hits. Senior All-American catcher Jim Klocke added two hits.

Jon Clinard and John Hogan both had three of the Govs' 11 hits in the opener. Chris Lewellyn homered.

The three-game series concludes at 1 p.m. today as Southeast's seniors will be recognized before the Redhawks' final home contest of the season.