FAYETTEVILLE — Southeast Missouri State University junior right-hander Brian Smart picked a good time to make his longest start of the season.
Smart pitched 6 2/3 innings and received plenty of offensive support as the fourth-seeded Redhawks beat second-seeded Louisiana Tech, 9-3, at Baum-Walker Stadium on Saturday in a consolation game of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.
The Redhawks, who won the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament, improved to 2-11 overall in the NCAA Tournament and earned their first regional win since 2002, when they beat Alabama, 7-4.
Southeast Missouri State (35-26) is scheduled to play another consolation game Sunday at 1 p.m. after losing to Arkansas-Kansas State in a late-night game on Saturday, while Louisiana Tech (45-19) has finished its season.
“This was Brian’s best start of the year,” Redhawks manager Andy Sawyers said. “I think he has one of the best pitchers in the league, but we haven’t had many opportunities to get him past the fifth inning. Once we get to the fourth or fifth inning, he starts to lose control and get shaky, so we’re going to have to rely on the bullpen.”
“It was great that he got us to the seventh inning.”
Smart gave up three runs, walked four and allowed seven hits while striking out four.
“I just knew I had to go out there and give my teammates a chance to win,” Smart said.
Smart threw a season-high 99 pitches, 61 of which were strikes.
“He threw it with all his might,” Louisiana Tech coach Lane Burrows said. “He’s a very courageous young man.”
“His numbers aren’t great, but his team was in danger of being eliminated and he did what he had to do. He pitched when he needed to, like a tough young man should.”
“I was really impressed with the way he continued to put the ball in the strike zone with multiple pitches.”
Left fielder Ian Riley gave Southeast Missouri State a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run homer off Bulldogs starter Reid Smith, then right fielder Josh Cameron hit a grand slam off Sam Brodersen in the fourth inning to extend the Redhawks’ lead to 9-1.
“I had runners on base and I was just looking for something to hit,” said Cameron, who smashed a 1-2 fastball over the 400-foot marker in center field. “I just tried to stay calm and put my best swing on the best pitch, and it paid off.”
“It felt great to do it in a regional match.”
