SE Holds Off RSU for Midweek Win

CLAREMORE, Okla. – Southeastern scored seven runs over the first three innings and then held off a Rogers state rally to pick up an 8-7 win on Tuesday afternoon in Claremore, Okla.
 
The Savage Storm improve to 5-5 on the season and will return to The Ballpark in Durant for a three game series to open Great American Conference play against Northwestern Oklahoma State on Feb. 19-20.
 
The SE offense was clicking on Tuesday as the one through four hitters combined for 11 hits.
 
That group was led by a 4-for-5 effort from Kaleb Thomas, while Dylan Helms added a 3-for-5 effort at the plate.
 
Brandon Grimsley and Greg Husnander added a pair of hits each.
 
Grimsley drove on three runs on the afternoon with a homer, while Husnander had a homer of his own and a pair of RBI.
 
Thomas, Corban Taylor and Connor Counce each drove in one as well.
 
On the hill the Storm used seven pitchers on the afternoon with starter Mike Wade turning in the longest outing while tossing 2.2 innings and allowing a run on two hits with four strikeouts and picking up the win, his first of the year.
 
Michael Brinska started the parade of reliever with a 1.1 inning showing in which he struck out one and allowed no hits.
 
Cory Schieibner came on in relief to toss an inning without allowing as hit before Bryce Clemons came on and was touched up for four runs on three hits in just one-third of an inning.
 
Scott Brinkley entered next and tossed 1.2 innings and allowed a pair of runs on two hits with three strikeouts, with Cody Luman following him with two-thirds of an inning, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
 
Brady Colbert would finish the game with a four-out save, slowing a hit and striking out two on his way to his third save of the season.
 
A Grimsley RBI groundout in the first inning would capitalize on Helms' leadoff double and stake SE to a 1-0 lead.
 
Helms would again leadoff in the third inning with a hit and score on a Thomas double to Center field to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Grimsley followed with a two-run homer one batter later and Husnander made it back-to-back bombs with a solo shot to open up a 5-0 lead.
 
Tim Hunter would draw a walk and then come around to score on a Taylor double, with Taylor scoring one batter later on a Counce sac fly to open a 7-0 lead.
 
RSU would get a run back in the bottom of the third on an RBI single, but the Storm would counter that with a Husnander sac fly in the top of the fourth to push the lead to 8-1.
 
The Hillcats would find their offense in the sixth inning with a four-run inning to close the SE lead to 8-5.
 
RSU would add two more in the bottom of the eighth inning on back-to-back bases loaded walks, but Colbert would get a strikeout to end the threat and after finishing the order in four batters in the ninth would pick up the save in the 8-7 victory.