Redhawks collect two victories in final at-bats

~ Southeast helped its OVC cause with a pair of thrilling wins over Morehead State.

Saturday's tight doubleheader sweep of visiting Morehead State helped Southeast Missouri State accomplish several things.

Heading the list was that the Redhawks remained in the running for an Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship and also positioned themselves nicely for an important bye in the first round of the OVC tournament.

"It was a really good day for us," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

But it sure was difficult.

Southeast Missouri State senior Daryl Graham (9) looked for the call after scoring as Morehead State catcher Jarred Seasor lost the ball during the fourth inning of the second game of a doubleheader at Capaha Field on Saturday. Southeast's Nick Harris (8) gave his opinion on the outcome. (Kit Doyle)

Morehead entered the day tied for eighth place in the 10-team OVC, but the Eagles just as easily could have been the squad to come away with the sweep.

The Redhawks scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win the opener 4-3, then pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth for a 3-2 victory in a nightcap scheduled for seven innings.

"Both games could have gone either way, but these are two great wins for us," sophomore first baseman Matt Wagner said.

Southeast improved to 30-19 overall and 15-7 in OVC play. The Redhawks moved into second place in the conference, one-half game behind Austin Peay and one-half game ahead of Jacksonville State.

The top two finishers receive a bye for the opening round of the six-team league tournament, thus saving vital pitching.

Redhawks shortstop Robby Moore completes a double play over Morehead's Christian Winstanley during game 2 at Capaha Park on Saturday, May 12, 2007. (Kit Doyle)

"It would be great to win the [regular-season] championship and it would also be nice to get a bye [for the tournament]," senior right fielder Daryl Graham said.

While those things will be determined during Southeast's final four OVC games, the Redhawks officially took care of two items that appeared to simply be formalities.

First, Southeast clinched a berth in the OVC tournament for the 13th straight season -- all under Hogan. That streak for a baseball program ties the longest in OVC history.

Second, the Redhawks have now posted seven seasons of 30 or more wins during Hogan's 13 years at Southeast.

"To get to 30 wins seven out of 13 years is not bad," said Hogan, who produced his worst overall and OVC records last year as the Redhawks went 23-33 and 11-16. "It's nice to see us back to where we're used to being."

Even though Morehead's record is unimpressive -- 15-33 overall and 8-15 in OVC play -- the Eagles had won their last two league series, against defending tournament champion Jacksonville State and defending regular-season champion Samford.

That's why the Redhawks expected nothing less than what Morehead gave them Saturday.

"They were playing really well, and we knew we'd have to play our 'A' game to take care of them," junior pitcher Dustin Renfrow said.

Added Hogan: "I really commend the job they did. Both games were there for either side. I'm proud of the way we hung in there."

Southeast never trailed the entire day, but the Redhawks also found themselves deadlocked late in both contests.

Each time, they found a way to pull out the win at the very end.

In the opener, the Redhawks used some generosity by Morehead to squeeze through.

Entering their final regulation at-bat of a 3-3 game, the Redhawks led off the bottom of the ninth with freshman third baseman Nick Harris reaching on an error.

Freshman catcher Jim Klocke sacrificed, senior second baseman Omar Padilla was intentionally walked and Wagner reached on an infield single to load the bases.

Senior designated hitter Asif Shah bounced back to Morehead pitcher Tyler Lee, who throw home for a force out of Harris.

It looked like the Eagles had little chance to double up Shah at first base, but Morehead catcher Donald Cheney threw down there anyway -- and the errant toss bounced past the bag as Padilla scored easily with the unearned run.

"It was a crazy way to end the game," said Hogan, whose squad benefited from another unearned run early in the contest.

In the seven-inning nightcap, the squads were deadlocked 2-2 as the Redhawks came to bat in the bottom of the eighth.

Wagner led off with a single and was replaced on the bases by junior pinch-runner Zachary Blemker.

Shah, who was trying to sacrifice, instead walked on four pitches. Senior pinch-hitter Phillip Riley flew to center for the first out, with Blemker advancing to third.

Senior center fielder Dustin Pritchett attempted a safety squeeze bunt, which got higher in the air than he probably wanted and looked like it might be caught. Blemker had to hold at third just in case Prichett's bunt was snared, but it dropped near the pitcher's mound and Pritchett had an infield single to load the bases.

Graham then lined a single to center on the first pitch from Michael Bottoms that scored the game-winning run.

"I knew with the bases loaded that he [Bottoms] was going to come after me," Graham said. "I got a fastball and just went after it."

Both teams received exceptional starting pitching.

Renfrow, the OVC's ERA leader at 2.05, allowed six hits and three runs over eight innings of the opener. The right-hander struck out a season-high eight batters.

Morehead's Henry Mabee matched Renfrow, allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) over eight innings.

Riley, a right-hander, got the victory by pitching the top of the ninth and escaped trouble as Morehead left the bases loaded. Riley (6-3) is tied with Shah for the team lead in wins.

Shah, a left-hander coming off a shutout at Eastern Kentucky, hurled five scoreless innings in the nightcap before running into trouble. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed eight hits and two runs.

Morehead's Tyler Bess also matched Shah, giving up seven hits and two runs in seven innings.

Senior left-hander Josh Parham (5-3) was the second-game winner with 1 2/3 scoreless frames. He also forced Morehead to leave the bases loaded in the top of the eighth.

"Our pitching was awesome again," Hogan said. "And Morehead's guys threw great."

Exemplifying how tight the doubleheader was, each squad had 18 hits. Wagner went 5-for-7 to lead Southeast. He and Pritchett both had three hits in the nightcap.

The teams close out their series at 1 p.m. today in Southeast's final home contest. The Redhawks' 10 seniors will be recognized prior to the first pitch.