Southeast Missouri State baseball team flies out of gate with two wins

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team got its season started in impressive fashion.

Not much went wrong for the visiting Redhawks, who won the first two games of a three-game series at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.

Southeast took Friday's opener 4-2, then romped 9-1 on Saturday.

The squads, both with high expectations after enjoying successful 2010 campaigns, close out the series in Lafayette, La., at 1 p.m. today.

"What a terrific way to start our season against an outstanding team," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose club is 2-0 for the first time since 2007. "These are two really big wins for us. We've had some great performances. I'm very proud of the way we've played."

Southeast Missouri State's Louie Haseltine belts a home run during the first inning Saturday in Lafayette, La. (WAYNE McPHERSON ~ Special to the Southeast Missourian)

ULL, the defending Sun Belt Conference co-champion, won an NCAA regional game last year. The Ragin' Cajuns, frequent regional participants, appeared in the 2000 College World Series.

"They have an outstanding program and it's really a great atmosphere for baseball down here," Hogan said. "This is a madhouse. It's a crazy place to play."

ULL annually ranks among the national leaders in home attendance. An announced crowd of 3,768 -- biggest since 2002 and 10th-largest in school history -- attended Friday's opener, with 3,483 on hand for Saturday's contest.

"They've got great fans and we also had a really good showing from our crowd," Hogan said. "It was very impressive, the people who came to support us."

Southeast received strong pitching, stellar defense and timely hitting to clinch the series victory. The Redhawks made no errors in either contest and recorded several highlight-reel plays.

The Cajuns suffered just their second season-opening loss in the past 14 years with Friday's setback.

The Redhawks scored single runs in each of the first two innings. The Cajuns countered with a third-inning run.

Southeast made it 4-1 with a two-run fifth, and all ULL could manage the rest of the way was a sixth-inning tally.

Senior left-hander Jordan Underwood, Southeast's top returning starter, notched the win by working the first five innings.

Underwood allowed one run on five hits. He struck out five and walked four.

"Jordan did an outstanding job," Hogan said.

After senior right-hander Nick Thomas allowed a run on a hit and three walks in one inning, standout sophomore closer Shae Simmons nailed down the victory.

Simmons, a Scott City native who was the 2010 Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year while earning freshman All-American honors, came in with two on and nobody out in the seventh inning.

Simmons retired the next three batters to escape that jam and allowed just one walk over the final two frames for the three-inning save. He struck out four.

"Shae was just tremendous," Hogan said.

Senior second baseman Tim Rupp turned in several dazzling plays while junior shortstop Kenton Parmley came up with a gem during the critical seventh inning.

Southeast had seven hits compared to six for ULL.

Senior left fielder Michael Adamson and senior first baseman Brett Russell both had two hits for the Redhawks. Senior center fielder Blake Slattery from Central stole two bases.

The Redhawks again jumped on top early Saturday and quickly turned things into a blowout.

Senior right fielder Louie Haseltine's three-run homer with two outs in the first inning got the Redhawks going. It was Haseltine's 29th career home run.

"That was the swing of the game," Hogan said.

Southeast added a run in the second inning, then broke open things with two in the third and three in the fourth for a 9-0 bulge.

"It was nice to get that kind of cushion," Hogan said.

Senior Jon Dicus, primarily a reliever last year, gave the Redhawks a second straight strong start.

Dicus blanked ULL over the first five innings. He was relieved after the first two batters reached in the sixth and wound up being charged with a run.

Dicus notched the victory, allowing seven hits and no walks while striking out two.

"Jon pitched very well. He was really in control," Hogan said.

Senior Kirk Boeller from Notre Dame Regional High School followed Dicus to the mound and fired off three scoreless frames. He gave up two hits, struck out two and walked two.

"Kirk threw three wonderful innings," Hogan said.

Freshman Christian Hull made his collegiate debut by finishing with a scoreless ninth inning, working around two hit batters.

Southeast outhit ULL 10-9. Parmley and junior second baseman Taylor Heon led the Redhawks with two hits each. Slattery delivered two RBIs.

The Redhawks continued their stellar defensive play. Adamson made a sensational back-to-the-infield catch near the left-field wall and Rupp made a diving catch after moving to shortstop.

"We've had some great defensive plays so far," Hogan said.

About the only downer of the first two games was Parmley leaving Saturday's contest in the fourth inning after being shaken up on a play at the plate.

Hogan said Parmley was removed for precautionary reasons and should be in the lineup today.