Southeast Missouri 7 UT Martin 2 - Box score I PDF Version I Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri baseball team defeated UT Martin 7-2 on Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field as the Redhawks earned their first sweep in Ohio Valley Conference play since May 20-21, 2011 when the Redhawks took a three game set from Eastern Illinois.

“It was a hard fought game today, but Clayton's homer run really gave us a big boost,” said head coach Steve Bieser.

The Redhawks improve to 15-14 overall and 7-5 in the OVC with the sweep as the Skyhawks fall to 8-19 and 1-11 in the conference.

Junior Luke Shearrow got the win on the mound for the Redhawks going 3.1 innings allowing four hits with four strikeouts in his first victory as a Redhawks.

“It was very impressive how Luke worked out of jams today as he really had a great outing.” Said Bieser.

The top of the Southeast lineup paced the Redhawks as the first five batters in the order recorded nine hits. Jason Blum, Cole Bieser, Derek Gibson and Matt Tellor all recorded two hits in the contest. Andy Lennington extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single.

“The top of our lineup was really feeling it today and that is what we expect from them,” said Bieser.

The Redhawks got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bieser opened the scoring with an RBI double to left centerfield scoring Alex Burridge. Bieser later scored on an RBI single from Gibson.

UTM tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning. The Redhawks recorded and error in the frame that allowed a runner to score to tie the contest.

Neither team could manufacture a run until Redhawks took the lead in the seventh inning on monster home run over the scoreboard in left field off the bat of freshman Clayton Evans to give Southeast a 3-2 lead.

Southeast added four insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on their way to the 7-2 win. The Redhawks sent eight batters to the plate in the frame as they recorded three hits.

Starter Zack Smith threw 2.2 innings in the start, but the left the game due and was relieved by Tony Zerrusen as he went two innings. Senior Bobby Hurst threw one inning of relief in the ninth inning.

Dalton Potts (3-3) was tagged with the loss for the Skyhawks going six innings allowing three runs on six hits.
Matt Haynes led UT Martin offensively going 3-for-4 on the afternoon.

The Redhawks return to action on Tuesday as they head to Jonesboro, Ark. to take on the Red Wolves of Arkansas State at 6:30 p.m.