Redhawks encounter quiet day, two losses

~ Southeast mustered just eight hits and one run in losses to Indiana State and Southeastern Louisiana.

The Redhawks baseball team opened a seven-game homestand at Capaha Park on Friday, but their bats appeared left behind in Evansville, Ind., as Southeast was swept in a doubleheader by a combined 16-1.

Southeast fell 8-1 to Indiana State and 8-0 to Southeastern Louisiana as the four-team round-robin Little Caesars Pizza Classic began play.

The Redhawks (4-6) will face Indiana State (2-4) again today at 4 p.m., then play Creighton in the finale of the tournament at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

While offense appeared to be a worry for the Redhawks entering the season, Southeast had scored six or more runs in six of its eight games, including a 7-6 loss Wednesday at Evansville.

"Not a real good day for us," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Part of Southeast's struggles at the plate can be attributed to the pitching of Southeastern Louisiana starter Jeremy Mizell and Indiana State starter Ryan Hayes. Mizell was particularly dominant, striking out nine in seven innings of four-hit ball.

Mizell entered the game with a 2-1 record and a 0.93 ERA in 19.1 innings of work.

"The reason why he was so successful is because he threw all three of his pitches for strikes," Hogan said. "It's just murder to hit a pitcher with a good hopping fastball when he has other pitches going."

Southeast did draw two walks against Mizell and stranded eight overall against the Lions, but it rarely had any real scoring threats in the game. The Redhawks best chance came when James Clayton had a leadoff double early in the game but was stranded.

The Redhawks stayed close behind the pitching of senior Jamie McAlister, who struck out eight and walked three in 7 1/3 innings. McAlister did allow 11 hits, but only two went for extra bases.

"Jamie threw really well," Hogan said. "If we were on the board we'd have had a ball game."

McAlister actually pitched out of a second-and-third jam with no outs in the first, but he couldn't wiggle out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the second. Ty Summerlin made McAlister pay, driving in two with a single. Richard Imhoff added an RBI for a 3-0 lead.

"I thought we had some bad at-bats early in the game, but then we did a good job regrouping," Lions coach Jay Artigues said. "Especially after that first inning with second-and-third and no outs. It was good to come back the next inning and get some runs and get on top."

Southeastern Louisiana (7-4) added a run in the sixth, then busted the game open with three runs in the eighth. Summerlin led the Lions with three hits and four RBIs. Kyle Ginn added three hits for the Lions, and Ricky Newman had a pair of hits and three runs scored.

The Lions will face Creighton at noon today, then play Indiana State on Sunday.

"This is good for us," Artigues said of the round-robin tournament. "We get to play three different teams; we can get away from home and play some good teams."

The Redhawks managed just four hits, all by different players. Clayton was on base three times with a double and two walks.

In the opener against Indiana State, the Redhawks once again managed just four hits. Southeast fell behind 2-0 after one inning and spoiled a golden opportunity in the second.

The Redhawks had second and third with no outs after a walk to Aaron Rave and a double by Brent Lawson, but Southeast managed just one run in the inning. Jordan Payne picked up the RBI on a two-out single.

"We didn't have many opportunities really, but if we could have cracked through there early it might have become a different kind of day," Hogan said.

Southeast starter Anthony Maupin could not keep the game close, surrendering two more runs in the third and three more in the fifth before being relieved. Maupin allowed nine hits, six earned runs and struck out four without walking a batter in his five innings.

Payne provided the lone bright spot for the Redhawks with a 2-for-2 game.

Indiana State got 10 of its 12 hits from the top four spots in the order. Tim Brewer and Jake Eigsti had three hits apiece, and Eigsti and Marcus Artner had two RBIs each for the Sycamores. Hayes struck out five in six innings of work for the win.

Hogan said after being pounded in two games on Friday, it will be important to get back into the winning column today.

"With a young club, it will be interesting to see how we respond," Hogan said.

Making the start today against the Sycamores will be Asif Shah. Shah has a 13.50 ERA over 4 2/3 innings of work spanning two appearances.