Redhawks fumble close one, 3-2

Southeast Missourian ~ The Southeast Missouri State baseball team dug itself an early hole Tuesday night and couldn't quite climb out.

Host Arkansas-Little Rock led 3-0 after two innings and that was all the Trojans needed during their 3-2 victory.

Southeast (7-6) and UALR (9-3) conclude their two-game nonconference series at 3 p.m. today.

The Redhawks, trailing 3-1, had a golden opportunity to at least tie the contest in the ninth inning.

Sophomore third baseman Andy Lennington led off with a single, and sophomore catcher Dalton Hewitt followed with a single. The runners moved up on a one-out wild pitch, then Lennington scored on another wild pitch to make it 3-2 as Hewitt advanced to third.

But Southeast's next two batters struck out.

Southeast outhit UALR 9-8 but committed five errors, four on pickoff plays, although all of UALR's runs were earned. The Trojans had no errors.

Junior center fielder Cole Bieser, sophomore DH Ryan Barnes and junior second baseman John Logan Zink all had two hits for Southeast.

Junior Hank Williams Jr., who entered the game having allowed no runs and just two hits in 6 2/3 innings spanning four appearances, suffered his first collegiate loss in his second start.

Williams Jr. (2-1) gave up three runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked one.

Southeast's bullpen continued its strong work to keep the Redhawks in the game as UALR was blanked over the final six innings.

Senior Tony Zerrusen, Southeast's second hurler, worked 4 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out two and walked two.

Senior Michael Patman recorded one out, freshman Alex Siddle recorded two outs -- working out of a bases-loaded, one-out seventh-inning jam he inherited -- and sophomore Jason Blum set down UALR in the eighth inning.

Blum, Southeast's second baseman who is pitching this year for the first time in college, has worked two scoreless innings.

UALR went ahead for good with two first-inning runs. Ben Crumpton led off with a double and later came in on a ground out. Blake Johnson belted a solo home run.

Two doubles resulted in a second-inning run for the Trojans as they led 3-0.

There was no more scoring until the sixth inning, when Southeast finally got on the board.

Bieser singled with one out, went to second on junior first baseman Matt Tellor's single, moved to third on a fly out and came home on a passed ball.

Freshman starter Chad Bradford pitched 5 2/3 innings for his first collegiate win.

Bradford (1-2), who entered the night with an 11.37 ERA in 6 1/3 innings, allowed an unearned run and six hits while striking out three and walking none.

Four UALR relievers combined to allow one run and three hits while striking out six over the final 3 1/3 innings.

UALR pitchers issued no walks while Southeast hurlers walked six batters.