Arkansas State batters SE in eighth to cap comeback

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Arkansas State struck for five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning as it rallied for a 7-3 baseball victory over Southeast Missouri State University Tuesday.

Southeast (2-5) carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth, but Arkansas State unloaded five of its nine hits in the inning to take the lead.

James Beever (0-3), the third Indians pitcher on the day, entered the game in the eighth and was greeted by a pair of singles by Neal Chambers and Brad Hayes before walking clean-up batter Zach Shipley to load the bases. Beever struck out George Sterner, but then yielded the game-winning hit, a two-run single to left field by Blake Denischuk, who advanced to second on the throw home. Dusty Sexton followed with a two-run single to increase the lead to 6-3.

Beever retired the next batter before giving way to Brad Bumpus, who committed a throwing error that allow the final run to score.

The outburst gave the win to Kevin Cutler, the third of four ASU pitchers. Cutler (1-0) didn't allow a hit in 2 1/3 innings and struck out three Indians. Blake Ring closed out Southeast with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Beever took the loss, allowing five runs and four hits in 2/3 of an inning.

ASU (4-7) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third off Southeast starter Jon Nourie, who allowed just two hits in five innings. Southeast tied the score in the fifth when Tristen McDonald walked and later scored on a two-out wild pitch.

Southeast took a 3-1 lead in the sixth with two runs off reliever Brent Cramer. The Indians used a second wild pitch to take the lead, and Zach Borowiak added an RBI double.

Arkansas State trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning on a Chambers home run.

Borowiak and designated hitter Wade Hansford each had two hits as Southeast had five overall.