Dallas Baptist sweeps season-opening series against Southeast Missouri State baseball team

The young, inexperienced Southeast Missouri State baseball team had plenty of bright spots over the weekend as the Redhawks opened their season against a squad ranked 33rd in one national poll.

But the Redhawks failed to come away with a win for their efforts.

Host Dallas Baptist, despite being outhit in all three games, swept the series in Dallas.

Dallas Baptist, which won an NCAA regional last year, took Friday's doubleheader 7-6 and 3-2.

The Patriots finished off the series sweep Saturday with a rain-shortened 3-1 victory. The contest was stopped after five innings and could not be resumed.

Southeast outhit the Patriots 26-17 in the series.

"We did have some outstanding performances," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad lost 18 seniors from last year and has 21 newcomers among its 34-player roster. "And we did have some glaring problems with certain situations, as you would expect from an opening series."

Friday's 7-6 opener was highlighted by true freshman Ryan Barnes hitting a home run in his first collegiate at-bat. Barnes' two-run shot in the top of the second inning gave the Redhawks a 2-1 lead.

"He's got a bright future," Hogan said.

Southeast fell behind 6-3, thanks to four runs the Patriots scored without the benefit of a hit.

The Redhawks forged a 6-6 tie in the seventh inning when senior Jesse Tierney's RBI single plated sophomore Cole Bieser.

Dallas Baptist regained a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the seventh and held on.

Barnes, Bieser and seniors Kody Campbell, Taylor Heon and Kenton Parmley all had two of Southeast's 14 hits. Parmley matched Barnes with two RBIs.

Junior college transfer Bobby Hurst took the loss on the mound. He allowed one run despite not giving up a hit in 1 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Christian Hull started, giving up two runs and six hits in three innings. He struck out five and walked three.

Juco transfer Trevor Kill, the last of five Southeast pitchers, was the lone Redhawks hurler to not give up a run. He allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

The squads combined to walk 17 batters, nine by Southeast.

Friday's 3-2 nightcap saw Dallas Baptist build a 3-0 lead through five innings and the Patriots again held off the Redhawks, who scored both their runs in the sixth inning.

Senior All-American Trenton Moses had two of Southeast's seven hits, including a triple. Redshirt freshman Jason Blum also had two hits. Moses and Barnes drove in the runs.

Junior Shae Simmons started and took the loss. He allowed two runs and two hits in four innings with four strikeouts and four walks.

Simmons combined with two other pitchers to limit the Patriots to four hits.

Juco transfer Dylan Lynn, Southeast's final hurler, gave up two hits in 3 2/3 shutout innings.

Southeast pitchers walked eight more batters, giving them 17 free passes in the doubleheader.

"We had some guys that were probably too nervous on the mound. I hope that's what it was," Hogan said.

Dallas Baptist grabbed a 2-0 first-inning lead Saturday. Southeast scored its lone run in the third inning, and the Patriots rounded out the scoring in the fifth.

Juco transfer Zach Smith had a strong start in his Southeast debut, allowing three runs and four hits in five innings. He struck out one and walked three.

Redshirt freshman Andy Lennington had two hits in his first career start. Tierney drove in Southeast's run.

Southeast stranded 30 runners in the series and committed four errors. Dallas Baptist stranded 26 and had seven errors.

The Redhawks return to action Tuesday when they begin an 11-game homestand with a 3 p.m. first pitch against Harris-Stowe State University.