ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State University and Chad Bogenpohl appeared to be cruising to an easy victory Tuesday night.
But then Bogenpohl left the game -- and the Indians went on to suffer a stunning 9-7 loss at the hands of host St. Louis University.
The Indians fell to 17-20 while the Billikens improved to 11-27.
Bogenpohl, a senior pitcher out of Oak Ridge making his first start of the season, was masterful in six innings. The right-hander allowed just four hits and one run while striking out 11 and walking one.
When Bogenpohl was replaced on the mound to start the bottom of the seventh, the Indians held a 7-1 lead.
But the next four Southeast relievers combined to allow eight runs -- on just five hits, but with seven crucial walks thrown in -- as the Billikens scored four times in both the seventh and eighth innings.
Jerry Wolsey was tagged with the loss as he was charged with two runs despite not giving up a hit. Wolsey, who did not retire a batter, walked two.
Todd Pennington, who replaced Bogenpohl to start the seventh and had been having a solid freshman season, was charged with four runs in one-third of an inning. He allowed two hits and walked two.
Daniel Rodriguez gave up two hits and one run in one inning while Ryan Spille -- Southeast's ace -- allowed one hit, two walks and a run while not retiring a batter.
Allen Landgren, the Indians' final hurler, retired both batters he faced.
Southeast had 14 hits, with freshman Clemente Bonilla Jr. and Kevin Meyer both getting three, including two doubles apiece. Jeremy Johnson, Darin Kinsolving and Kyle Yount all added two hits.
Jason Wood had three of SLU's nine hits.
The Indians scored twice in the second and three times in the third on their way to a strong start.
Southeast will be right back in action today, hosting Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. SIU defeated the Indians 6-5 in 11 innings on April 7 in Carbondale.
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