Redhawks jump into tie for first place in OVC

~ Southeast earns doubleheader split with Eastern Illinois.

Southeast Missouri State failed to sweep Saturday's doubleheader but still climbed into a first-place Ohio Valley Conference tie.

The Redhawks split with visiting Eastern Illinois, winning the nine-inning opener 10-5 and dropping the seven-inning nightcap 14-4.

But because Morehead State, which entered the day last in the OVC, surprisingly swept a pair at Jacksonville State, there is now a three-way deadlock atop the league standings.

Southeast, Jacksonville State and Austin Peay all have 11-6 conference records, as Austin Peay picked up two games on Jacksonville State by sweeping Tennessee-Martin.

Southeast Missouri State senior Robby Moore flied out while batting against Eastern Illinois on Saturday at Capaha Park. (Kit Doyle)

"It's good to be back in first place, but there's a long way to go," Southeast senior second baseman Omar Padilla said. "We don't really think about it. We know it's in our hands, if we can take care of business."

Southeast coach Mark Hogan felt the same way.

"As usual it's going to be a really interesting finish," said Hogan, whose squad is 26-18 overall. "But there are 10 [conference] ballgames left and anything can happen.

"With that many games to go, you don't really pay that much attention whether you're a game up or a game behind, or tied. There is so much baseball left to be played."

Southeast and EIU (18-20, 8-8) used similar formulas during their wins Saturday, jumping out to nice first-inning leads and then pulling away for good late.

Redhawks third baseman Nick Harris unsuccessfully dives for an Eastern Illinois drive down the line at Capaha Park on Saturday, April, 28, 2007, during game two of a double header. (Kit Doyle)

The Redhawks jumped on top with four runs in the opening frame of the first game, the big blow being sophomore left fielder Matt Wulfers' two-run double.

The Redhawks never looked back, and after EIU closed to within 5-4, Southeast broke things open with a four-run seventh, the key blow being freshman catcher Jim Klocke's two-run single with two outs that made it 7-4.

"He's come through with a lot of big hits for us," Hogan said of Klocke.

Southeast starter Dustin Renfrow, the OVC's leader in ERA, probably did not have his best stuff.

But Hogan figures it was justice that the Redhawks were able to nail down a win for their junior right-hander after he had exited the game.

Despite entering the weekend with a 1.69 ERA that was tied for 15th nationally, Renfrow was just 3-1, thanks to six no-decisions.

Renfrow left after six innings with a 5-4 lead. The Redhawks never let the Panthers catch up as Renfrow improved to 4-1.

Renfrow allowed six hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts and three walks. His ERA went up to 1.91.

"He's been a tough-luck guy. He's thrown so many outstanding games and hasn't had a lot of wins to show for it," Hogan said. "He gutted it out against a real good hitting team and it was nice we could get him the win."

Senior right-hander Phillip Riley -- tied for the team lead with five wins -- earned his first save of the season by working the final three innings. He allowed four hits and one run, with two strikeouts and two walks.

"He did a good job," Hogan said.

The Redhawks had 11 hits, led by Padilla, senior designated hitter Asif Shah and sophomore first baseman Matt Wagner with two each.

Padilla scored three runs, while Klocke, Shah, Wulfers and freshman third baseman Nick Harris all delivered two RBIs.

Then it was EIU's turn to start fast as the Panthers tagged Shah for five runs on four hits in the first inning of the nightcap.

Southeast closed within 5-3 after four innings, but the Panthers began to pull away with a three-run fifth and then broke things open with a four-run sixth. They added two more in the seventh.

"You have to give them credit. They jumped all over Asif and he's been good," Padilla said.

Shah, a left-hander, fell to 5-2 as he suffered his second straight loss and had his string of four consecutive complete games snapped.

In 4 2/3 innings, Shah allowed eight hits and seven runs (five earned). He struck out three and walked five.

"He just didn't seem like he was on. He pitched behind and that's tough to do," Hogan said. "He's had a lot of success, but they got on him early."

The Panthers piled on late against Southeast's bullpen and finished with 18 hits after they had 10 hits in the opener.

"They're a really good hitting team, especially when they get ahead in the count," Hogan said. "They bounced back like you would expect a good team to do."

Southeast had seven second-game hits, led by Padilla with two as he finished the day 4-for-7. Senior center fielder Dustin Pritchett homered.

Jordan Kreke had three hits and five RBIs in the nightcap for the Panthers.

The squads will square off at 1 p.m. today in the series finale. Southeast has won four of its five OVC series so far.

"Two out of three will be good for either team," Hogan said. "It's a big game tomorrow."