COLUMN: For ‘gritty’ Redhawks, first win felt like a long time coming

Southeast Missouri State outfielder Michael Mugan rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Murray State on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

It was no coincidence that the first home game of the 2024 baseball season at Southeast Missouri State University was a mid-60 degree day.

The sun was out with no sign of winter weather to be seen or felt, and just enough wind for the Redhawks to take advantage of, as they rallied in the sixth inning to beat Murray State 8-7 on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Capaha Field.

It wasn’t just the Redhawks’ first win of this year but also their first win since sweeping Lindenwood to close out April of 2023.

“It’s awesome,” SEMO infielder Chance Resetich said. “Coming from that tough series [at Dallas Baptist] and getting our first W in what seems like six months, since May, it feels great to get on the win column here.”

Southeast Missouri State senior Chance Resetich follows through on a hit against Murray State on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

SEMO looked prime to win a third straight OVC Tournament last year at the end of April before finishing the season on a 0-11 free fall in May. The Redhawks are clearly motivated to correct their past collapse.

“That taste has been in our mouths for way too long,” Resetich said. “It’s good to get back on the field and get back at it.”

According to Resetich and other SEMO upperclassmen, the first step to turning their fortunes around is a change in culture.

“We definitely have a grittier mentality to us this year,” SEMO shortstop Ben Palmer said. “I know last year when things started not to go our way we started to get down on ourselves and pout and started to feel sorry for ourselves. I think this year we’re taking more accountability into our own hands and really just handling things and I think that’s good. That’s a good step for us and it’s gonna help us turn some things around.”

Southeast Missouri State shortstop Ben Palmer celebrates hitting a home run with head coach Andy Sawyers during a game against Murray State on Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Capaha Field.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Part of facilitating that culture change is getting new players that fit. Outfielder Michael Mugan, who arrived from Monterrey Peninsula College in California, made a proper first impression in his Capaha debut with three hits, two RBIs, and a home run.

“I think of myself as a gritty person,” Mugan said. “The game is on the line, I want to be up in that spot just because that’s how I’m wired. I think that grittiness that you’re seeing from everyone kind of just starts in the fall. We train hard together, we suffer together, we lift weights together all the time. We can just build that grittiness from day one in August.”

The Redhawks proved that hitting can be contagious, at least for one inning. After five innings of what seemed to be hopeless baseball against a seemingly superior opponent, SEMO erupted with four home runs in a six-run sixth-inning rally to turn the tables in its favor.

Bryce Cannon, Palmer, Mugan, and Peyton Leeper all hit their home runs over the Mercy Southeast Party Deck, truly living up to its name.

“It’s about momentum,” Mugan said. “We put a couple of good swings on some pitches off their guys and luckily got some help from the wind and the ball kind of sailed out. I think that when you’re in the dugout and you see your teammates stringing together a couple of hits, it definitely gives you the confidence to go out there and do it as well. So just keeping that momentum going in the right direction, it’s contagious in baseball.”

The Redhawks will host St. Thomas (MN) in a four-game weekend series this week and Toledo next weekend, as well as a March 5 game against Middle Tennessee. Having nine of the next 10 games at home gives the Redhawks a golden opportunity to start the season hot while the rest of the state warms up for spring.