Redhawks drop three close games on Mississippi trip

~ The Redhawks lost two extra-inning games Friday and a one-run decision Saturday

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has lost three of its first four games at the BankFirst Challenge.

All three were narrow defeats and two were gut-wrenching, extra-inning affairs Friday as the three-day event opened in Starkville, Miss.

Southeast began play Friday with an 8-7, 11-inning loss to Michigan State of the Big 10 Conference.

That was followed by a 10-7, 10-inning setback against host Mississippi State of the Southeastern Conference.

Southeast could have closed out wins in both cases but errors led to unearned runs that allowed Michigan State and Mississippi State to extend the games before they finally prevailed.

Southeast (4-6) suffered its third loss of the weekend Saturday when Mississippi State (7-3) held on for a 3-2 victory.

Of the Redhawks' six defeats on the season, three have come in extra innings.

"We're in every game. That's a plus. We have to start finding a way to win some of them," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "But I'm really proud of the guys, the way they keep battling back. They've shown a lot this weekend."

The Redhawks finish up the event today with an 11 a.m. rematch against Michigan State (5-3).

ABOVE: Southeast Missouri State shortstop Kenton Parmley fields a ball during Friday's game against~Michigan State. RIGHT: Southeast starting pitcher Logan Mahon makes a delivery during Friday's game against Mississippi State.

(Friday) Michigan State 8, Southeast 7 (11)

Southeast took a 7-6 lead in the top of the 10th inning, only to see Michigan State tie it in the bottom of the 10th and then win it in the 11th.

Junior Blake Slattery, a Central High School graduate, delivered a sacrifice fly in the 10th to put the Redhawks on top.

The Redhawks had a chance to close out the victory but an error led to an unearned run by the Spartans, who then ended the contest in the 11th.

Southeast led 1-0 early, then trailed 5-1 after five innings and 5-2 after seven innings before going ahead by scoring four runs in the eighth.

Michigan State came right back to tie things in the bottom of the eighth to set the stage for extra innings.

Senior Kyle Gumieny had a strong performance as he worked into the eighth inning for the longest outing by a Southeast starter this season.

Gumieny allowed no runs and just one hit over the first three innings before giving up a combined five runs in the fourth and fifth. He recovered to work scoreless sixth and seventh innings before the Spartans tied it in the eighth.

Southeast escaped further damage in the eighth after junior college transfer left-hander Michael Adamson relieved Gumieny with one out and runners on second and third.

Adamson got a ground ball that retired the potential go-ahead run trying to score, then got another ground ball.

Adamson went the rest of the way and took the loss.

In 7 1/3 innings, Gumieny allowed nine hits and six runs (four earned). He struck out four and walked one.

Adamson gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings. He struck out none and walked three.

Southeast outhit the Spartans 13-12 as the Redhawks were led by juco transfer Ky Burgess with three hits.

Senior Jim Klocke, junior Louie Haseltine, sophomore Kenton Parmley and juco transfer Casey Jones all added two hits. Haseltine had two RBIs.

The Redhawks had three errors, leading to three unearned runs.

Mississippi State 10, Southeast 7 (10)

Once again the Redhawks rallied and took a 7-6, eighth-inning lead on an RBI double by sophomore Kody Campbell from Oran, Mo.

Down to their final out, the Bulldogs used a ninth-inning throwing error to force extra frames. They won it in the 10th on a three-run homer by Connor Powers, who belted his 43rd career home run. He had six RBIs in the game and already has five homers this year.

A highlight for Southeast was the continued brilliant relief work by freshman Shae Simmons from Scott City.

Simmons came on in the fifth inning with Southeast trailing 6-4. He threw four straight scoreless and hitless frames after he entered the day not having allowed a run or a hit in four innings.

Simmons finally allowed his first hit of the season, a leadoff single in the ninth. With two outs and the runner still on first, Simmons gave up a flare single to center. A throw to third base got away as the tying run scored.

Simmons struck out six and walked two in five innings.

Juco transfer Trent Wise came on to pitch the 10th. With one out he walked two straight hitters before Powers ended the game with a long homer.

Southeast starter Logan Mahon, a juco transfer left-hander, allowed four hits and six runs (four earned) in four innings. He struck out four and walked three.

The Redhawks trailed 3-0 after 2 1/2 innings and 6-4 after five innings before rallying to go ahead.

Southeast outhit the Bulldogs 10-7. Leading the way for the Redhawks was Jones with three more hits, including a triple. He had two RBIs.

Getting two hits each were Parmley and Slattery. Campbell added two RBIs.

Four more Southeast errors again led to three unearned runs.

(Saturday) Mississippi State 3, Southeast 2

Southeast rallied for the third straight game but this time could not come all the way back.

Trailing 3-0 after seven innings, the Redhawks plated two in the eighth.

With two outs in the ninth, Haseltine doubled and Slattery reached on an infield single.

Slattery's hit was kept from getting to the outfield by a diving stop, which might have prevented Haseltine from scoring the tying run. Southeast's next batter was retired.

Freshman Chris Stratton blanked the Redhawks on three hits through seven innings before being relieved with one out and two on in the eighth. He struck out nine and walked one.

Juco transfer left-hander Jordan Underwood took the loss. In four innings he allowed five hits and all three runs. He struck out four and walked four.

Juco transfer Jon Dicus finished up with four shutout innings. He allowed two hits, struck out three and walked three.

For the third straight game in the event, Southeast outhit its opponent, this time 8-7. Adamson had two hits and two RBIs.