Southeast Missouri State baseball team ends regular season on two-game win streak

~ Southeast defeated Memphis 9-4 on Saturday in its final game before the OVC tournament

There was a festive atmosphere at Capaha Field Saturday afternoon for Southeast Missouri State's final baseball game of the regular season.

Mark Hogan, Southeast's all-time winningest baseball coach who retired in 2012 after 18 years directing the program, was honored before the contest. He threw out the ceremonial first pitch and was presented a glass casing containing his jersey.

Southeast's small group of seniors -- pitchers Bobby Hurst, Trevor Kill, Zack Smith and Tony Zerrusen, all in their second season with the Redhawks after transferring from junior college -- also were recognized in an on-field ceremony prior to their final home appearance.

"It was great to have coach Hogan out there being honored," said first-year Southeast coach Steve Bieser, an assistant under Hogan the previous two seasons. "And it was a nice ceremony for our seniors, who have all done a very good job for us the last two years."

Southeast Missouri State third baseman Nolan Fisher get ready to tag out Memphis base runner Zach Willis on a steal attempt during Saturday’s game at Capaha Field. Fisher took the throw from catcher Tyler Boxwell. (WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to Southeast Missourian)

The game turned out as well as the prep-game festivities.

Southeast rolled past Conference USA opponent Memphis 9-4 as the Redhawks won the final two in the series after dropping Thursday's opener.

"I'm glad we took two out of three. This is what we needed as a young team," Kill said.

Southeast (24-31) struggled toward the end of the season, losing 11 of 13 entering Friday, but now the Redhawks have their first two-game winning streak in more than a month heading into their Ohio Valley Conference-record 19th straight OVC tournament appearance.

"It's good to end the season with two straight wins, and it's nice for the seniors," sophomore second baseman Jason Blum said. "Memphis is a good team. To come out with a series win is big."

Southeast Missouri State senior Trevor Kill pitches to a Memphis batter during Saturday’s game at Capaha Field. Kill notched his first victory of the season with 4 1/3 innings of two-hit relief.

The injury-depleted Redhawks, who finished sixth in the 11-team OVC, will play third-seeded Belmont at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Jackson, Tenn.

"We're just going to give our best effort and see how it turns out." Smith said.

Southeast's best was more than good enough to win the series from a Memphis (33-23) squad that finished third in the nine-team Conference USA and has posted three straight seasons of at least 30 victories.

"It feels good to win the last two games of the series," sophomore third baseman Nolan Fisher said. "It gives us confidence for the tournament."

The Redhawks trailed 3-1 after 2 1/2 innings Saturday but turned the contest around with a five-run fourth inning that erased a 3-2 deficit and gave them a 7-3 lead.

"A lot of times we've given up the big inning," Fisher said. "We got the one big inning of this game, and it ended up being the difference."

Freshman catcher Tyler Boxwell, who had his first collegiate RBI in Friday's 3-2, 11-inning win, delivered again in his second straight start and sixth of the season.

Boxwell's two-run double in the fourth inning put Southeast ahead for good at 4-3. Blum had the other big blow of the frame, a two-RBI triple.

Boxwell doubled twice Saturday -- his first collegiate extra-base hits -- giving him three hits in the series after he entered the set with just two hits all season in limited action. He also scored three runs Saturday.

"I think he's a tough out," Bieser said. "For him to basically be sitting on the bench so long without getting a lot of reps ... it was impressive."

Southeast, which outhit the Tigers in all three games, had an 11-6 edge Saturday.

Blum got his second triple in two games and added a double to go along with three RBIs. He leads Southeast with 19 doubles and is second with three triples, both figures ranking among the OVC leaders.

Freshman center fielder Clayton Evans went 3 for 4, boosting his average to .322, third-best on the squad.

Fisher added two hits.

Kill played a major role in the victory, just as fellow seniors Hurst, Smith and Zerrusen had done during Friday's triumph.

Kill (1-3) notched his first win of the season with 4 1/3 strong innings of relief. He allowed two hits and one run while striking out three and walking two.

"It's about time," said a smiling Kill about his initial victory. "It was a good senior weekend for all four of us."

Zerrusen was Friday's winner, after Smith had a strong start and Hurst recorded two key outs. Hurst's six saves rank fourth on the program's single-season list and his eight career saves are tied for third all-time.

"It was a storybook ending for our seniors, the last time for them at Capaha Field," Bieser said.

Junior left-hander Skylar Cobb, a Scott City High School graduate, finished up with two scoreless, one-hit innings.

Freshman lefty Alex Winkelman started and went 2 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs and three hits.

The Redhawks now turn their attention to the OVC tournament. They lost two of three during the regular season at first-year OVC member Belmont.

"This gives us a little confidence," Blum said.