Missouri State too much for Redhawks

Southeast Missouri State first-year interim baseball coach Steve Bieser knew his team faced an especially difficult challenge Wednesday afternoon.

Not only were the Redhawks short on pitching with a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series beginning today, they also were facing one of the nation's premier mound staffs.

Things went pretty much according to form as host Missouri State rolled to an 11-4 victory in Springfield, Mo.

The Bears, preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorites after winning 40 games last year and earning an NCAA regional berth, improved to 15-6.

Southeast fell to 12-14.

"We knew this was going to be a tough game," Bieser said.

The Redhawks had a chance to grab the early lead when they loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first inning. But they failed to score.

"The biggest thing, when we loaded the bases in the first inning and didn't score, it takes the wind out of your sails," Bieser said.

MSU came right back with five runs in the bottom of the first, all the damage done before a single batter was retired.

Southeast countered with a four-run second inning, the big blow a two-RBI double by junior first baseman Matt Tellor.

Sophomore catcher Dalton Hewitt had an RBI single while junior center fielder Cole Bieser stole home as part of a double steal with Hewitt.

"Give the guys credit. They really battled in the second inning," Steve Bieser said.

But the Bears, who entered the day with a stingy 2.73 earned-run average, held Southeast scoreless the rest of the contest and steadily pulled away.

"We did not quit. We just ran out of pitching today," Bieser said.

Southeast had 10 hits and tied a season high with four doubles, all over the first three innings. MSU banged out a season-high 17 hits, including the game's only home run. That came in the first inning, a three-run shot off the bat of Luke Voit.

Bieser had two doubles while Hewitt and sophomore third baseman Andy Lennington also had two hits apiece.

Koby Peebles and Tate Matheny registered the first four-hit games of their MSU careers.

Matheny, a freshman who is the son of Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, tied a school single-game record with three doubles. He leads the Bears with a .402 batting average.

Freshman Tyler Thomas, who had impressed in limited work out of the bullpen, made his first collegiate start and took the loss.

Thomas (1-1) went just the one inning. He allowed five runs and five hits while striking out none and walking one.

Junior Hank Williams Jr. gave up four runs and four hits in three innings. He struck out two and walked four.

Freshman Alex Siddle pitched a scoreless inning.

Senior Michael Patman, who had not allowed a run in seven innings, returned to the mound after missing several weeks with tendonitis. He gave up two runs and three hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Sophomore Nolan Fisher, normally a reserve position player, made his collegiate pitching debut and did not allow a run over the final 1 2/3 innings. He gave up two hits and struck out one.

"Nolan looked really good," Bieser said.

Freshman left-hander Matt Hall (2-0), the second of six MSU hurlers, notched the victory with 3 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

Now the Redhawks will turn their attention to Tennessee-Martin, which visits Capaha Field for a three-game OVC series beginning at 5 p.m. today. The squads also square off at 2 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.

OVC series, normally played Friday through Sunday, are moved up a day for Easter.

The Redhawks are 4-5 in OVC play, putting them in a three-way tie for sixth place in the 11-team league. UTM (8-16, 1-8) is 10th. The Skyhawks have lost eight straight conference games.