Redhawks pocket just one win at Murray St.

MURRAY, Ky. -- After Friday's nightmare of a beginning to Ohio Valley Conference play, Southeast Missouri State had to think things would get better Saturday.

But, really, they didn't -- and the result was an ugly series loss to host Murray State.

"It was a very frustrating series," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

After coughing up a four-run, ninth-inning lead Friday and losing in 13 innings, the Redhawks wasted a five-run, fifth-inning advantage in Saturday's seven-inning series finale, falling 7-6.

The only saving grace was a 15-10, nine-inning win to begin play Saturday -- the contest was also scheduled for seven innings -- in a game that had been suspended by darkness Friday. But even in that one, Southeast lost a three-run, sixth-inning lead before needing extra frames to prevail.

"Our pitching overall was atrocious," Hogan said.

While all three games were exciting and went to the wire, it was certainly not classic baseball. Southeast (8-13, 1-2 OVC) committed seven errors and its pitchers walked 16 batters. MSU (13-11, 2-1) had nine errors while its hurlers issued 18 free passes.

"Overall, it was not a very well-played series," Hogan said. "I think we have a better ballclub than that, but we didn't show it."

Said senior third baseman Eric Horstman, who hit safely in both contests Saturday as he extended his hitting streak to 13 games: "It's pretty frustrating. We absolutely gave them both games they won."

But Hogan was quick to point out that the conference race is a marathon and not a sprint, with all 10 teams scheduled to play 27 league games.

"It's a long season, but it will be interesting to see how we bounce back," Hogan said.

Southeast's pitching was already shorthanded this weekend as two of its expected top hurlers entering the season -- Bill Clayton and Anthony Maupin -- are sidelined.

Clayton, who has not yet pitched this year after offseason surgery, should be available any time now. Maupin, who saw some early action after offseason surgery, is injured again and will redshirt as he is done for the year.

Throw in the fact All-American closer Brad Smith -- who blew the save in Friday's 13-inning loss -- has been shut down until he is examined after he heard a pop in his elbow while warming up Friday, and the mound corps was especially thin Saturday.

"When we got extended that first game Friday, it set us up for a tough weekend," Hogan said.

That showed Saturday -- particularly when Southeast's most effective hurler was normal outfielder Brent Lawson, who had thrown just two innings previously this year.

Lawson, a sophomore, retired all six batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings of Saturday's continued game to notch his first college victory, and he also had the game-winning hit, a two-run double during a five-run ninth that broke a 10-10 tie.

The Redhawks then appeared poised for a series-closing win that would have made a poorly played weekend bearable as they led 6-1 entering the bottom of the fifth.

But starter Andy Johnson walked the first three batters, balked in a run, then a throwing error on Horstman allowed two runs to score. MSU wound up plating five runs on just two hits to forge a 6-6 tie.

MSU scored the go-ahead run in the sixth despite Lawson again coming in from the outfield and doing solid work after facing a first-and-third, one-out situation. He got the second out, then a passed ball by Levi Olson allowed the tie-breaking run to score, which held up when Horstman flied out with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.

Senior shortstop Ernie Bracamonte and junior left fielder Chris Gibson both had four hits Saturday, Gibson driving in four runs. Senior second baseman Bo Jenkins had three hits and three RBIs, while senior center fielder Frankie Montiel had three hits.

For the series, Bracamonte broke out of a slump by going 7-for-14, Jenkins went 6-for-11 and Montiel 5-for-14 with six RBIs.

But a suddenly revived offense could not prevent a series loss.

"It's funny, because a week ago we were concerned about our hitting, when our pitching was so good, and now it's the opposite," Hogan said. "It always happens that way."

Added Horstman: "We just have to put this series behind us and go out and attack the next few games."