Redhawks muster three hits in split at EKU

~ Southeast dropped to third place in the OVC.

Senior Asif Shah took matters into his own hands Sunday.

In the first game of a pair of seven-inning games, Shah smacked a double to left field for his team's lone hit. He scored on Matt Wulfers' groundout for the game's only run and didn't allow a run on the mound as Southeast Missouri State beat Eastern Kentucky 1-0 in the first game of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader in Richmond, Ky.

The Colonels rallied to win the second game 2-1, holding Southeast to two hits in that contest.

The doubleheader split means the Redhawks find themselves in third place in the OVC after Austin Peay swept Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State took two of three from Tennessee Tech. The Redhawks are 1 1/2 games behind Austin Peay and one-half game behind Jacksonville State.

Shah was on fire on the mound in the first game, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out three in a complete-game effort.

"He just had all three pitches working today," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Shah improved to 6-2 this season. Eastern Kentucky's Christian Friedrich struck out eight, didn't walk a batter and allowed just one hit, but took the loss, falling to 3-3.

In the second game, senior second baseman Omar Padilla gave the Redhawks the lead in the third inning, knocking in Daryl Graham with a single. Unfortunately, the Redhawks couldn't hold the lead.

Southeast freshman Josh Syberg retired the first two batters he faced in the fifth inning, but then walked Dylan McMaine. Clint Seymour followed with a double to put runners on second and third. Syberg hit Breck Norment to load the bases. Eastern Kentucky right fielder Shawn Flora hammered a single up the middle to score two. That's all the Colonels would need.

Syberg took the loss, dropping him to 4-2 this season.

"We had a real good chance to sweep both ballgames down here," Hogan said.

The Redhawks return to action Saturday when they host an OVC doubleheader with Morehead State, starting at 1 p.m. at Capaha Park. Morehead State took two of three from Samford over the weekend and stands at 8-13 in the OVC.