Redhawks drop scoring-fest 17-11 to ASU

~ Southeast rallied to tie it, but couldn't pull off the win.

The game that seemed like it never would end wound up snapping Southeast Missouri State's four-game winning streak.

Southeast and visiting Arkansas State combined for 28 runs, 33 hits, six errors and 16 walks. The teams used a total of 13 pitchers.

By the time things finally ended at Capaha Field late Wednesday night -- 4 hours, 6 minutes after they started -- the Red Wolves were on the right end of a 17-11 decision.

ASU improved to 17-23 as it swept the two-game, nonleague season series from Southeast, which fell to 23-15. The Redhawks remain a second-place 9-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference

Southeast baserunner Jim Klocke and Arkansas State first baseman Brandon Eller watch the pitch during the fourth inning Wednesday at Capaha Field. (Elizabeth Dodd)

An announced crowd of more than 1,000 turned out on Bluff City Beer night.

"It was kind of a bizzarre night," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We had a great crowd, a great atmosphere, and there were a lot of fireworks out of the chute."

Wildness by Southeast pitchers -- seven hurlers combined to walk 11 -- and some shaky defense helped put the Redhawks in an early hole that they only briefly could climb out of.

A first-inning error led to four unearned runs, then another error in the second inning caused three of four runs to be unearned as ASU built an 8-1 lead.

"We had some early walks that seemed like they came back to hurt us and then we had some errors," senior second baseman Tony Spencer said. "It was just a tough night. Not much went right."

Southeast rallied to forge an 8-8 tie in the fifth inning as senior left fielder Justin Wheeler scored all the way from first base on a wild pickoff throw as he was running on the pitch.

The Red Wolves came back to regain the lead with a four-run sixth that made it 12-8, and Southeast got no closer than two runs after that.

Southeast continued its recent offensive surge with 16 hits, giving the Redhawks 56 hits in their last four games. They have scored 47 runs in their last five contests.

"Sixteen hits. We'll take that into the weekend," said Hogan, looking ahead to an OVC series at Austin Peay on Saturday and Sunday.

Spencer hit the initial pitch Southeast saw in the game for a home run, his third of the season, a shot to the opposite field in left leading off the bottom of the first.

Spencer also had a three-run triple in Southeast's six-run third inning that pulled the Redhawks within 8-7. He finished with three hits.

Wheeler and junior catcher Jim Klocke -- who played third base Wednesday to give his legs somewhat of a rest -- matched Spencer with three hits apiece.

Senior right fielder Tyrell Cummings and freshman shortstop Kenton Parmley both added two hits.

Junior center fielder Nick Harris also homered -- his fourth of the season -- a solo shot leading off the ninth inning, which began with Southeast trailing 17-10.

The Redhawks later loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but failed to score any more runs.

That was just one of several missed opportunities for Southeast, which twice earlier in the night also had the bases loaded with one out only to see the Red Wolves escape those situations.

Southeast also had a runner thrown out at the plate.

The Redhawks knocked out ASU sophomore starter Drew Benes in the fourth inning after he allowed seven runs and 10 hits.

Benes, the son of former Cardinals pitcher Andy Benes -- who was in attendance, had allowed Southeast just two hits and one run over six innings during a 12-1 ASU win April 1 in Jonesboro, Ark.

"It seemed like he left a lot of pitches up over the plate," Spencer said. "Last time he had all four of his pitches working."

ASU's 17-hit attack was led by Derrick Coleman, who had a three-run homer in the first inning and a two-run single in the sixth.

He finished 3-for-3 with six RBIs.

Todd Baumgartner had four hits for ASU.

Junior left-hander Andy Stephens from Scott City -- Southeast's third pitcher -- was saddled with the loss as he fell to 1-1.