Bears pummel Redhawks

Not that Missouri State necessarily needed help in breaking a three-game losing streak, but Southeast Missouri State did its part.

The visiting Redhawks committed three errors and four pitchers combined for 11 walks. Missouri State gladly accepted the gifts on its way to a 16-3 nonconference baseball victory on a wind-chilled Tuesday night at Hammons Field.

Nolan Keane homered and knocked in four runs as the Bears improved to 16-12. They scored three runs in four separate innings and finished with a season-high run total while scoring in seven of the eight innings they batted. Leadoff hitter Ben Woodbury scored four times.

Southeast (19-9) took a first-inning lead as Nick Harris doubled and scored on Asif Shah's single. But Missouri State starter Tim Clubb induced a double-play grounder from Jim Klocke prior to Harris' double.

Keane's home run, following a leadoff walk to Woodbury, put the Bears ahead in the bottom of the first. The well-hit ball, aided by a strong northwest wind, landed on the roof of the office/clubhouse complex beyond right field.

The Bears added another run in the first against James Leigh (0-1) on two singles, a walk and Kyle Paul's sacrifice fly. They posted three more in the second, capitalizing on two Southeast errors.

With the help of a dropped fly ball, Missouri State went ahead 7-1 in the third inning.