Redhawks suffer stinging loss

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State has suffered more than its share of gut-wrenching losses this season -- but what took place Wednesday in the opening game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament no doubt stung the worst.

The fifth-seeded Redhawks put on a nearly flawless performance and twice were within two outs of a victory.

But fourth-seeded Murray State twice rallied in its final at-bat and pulled out a dramatic 4-3 triumph in 11 innings to send Southeast tumbling into the death valley of the losers bracket.

The Redhawks (24-31) play an 11 a.m. elimination contest today against third-seeded Morehead State knowing they now need six consecutive wins to capture the title in the six-team, double-elimination event.

"We played well, just not well enough to win," senior third baseman Eric Horstman said. "It's happened to us all year.

"We know we have to win six straight to win the tournament. We just have to take it one game at a time. It's just a matter of survival now."

Southeast now has suffered 18 losses by three runs or less, and the Redhawks fell to 4-9 in games decided by one run.

On the other hand, the Thoroughbreds (28-29) continued their season-long trend of winning close games, as they improved to 10-3 in one-run decisions.

"We've done this all year," said MSU sophomore second baseman Seth Hudson, a Central High School graduate.

MSU posted a pair of come-from behind, one-run victories against Southeast in late March, when the Thoroughbreds won two of three games in the OVC-opening series. Two of the three contests went to extra innings, just as Wednesday's affair did.

"We always think we have a chance to win, and we always have a good battle when we play SEMO," MSU sophomore center fielder Tyler Pittman said.

Pittman broke the Redhawks' hearts in the bottom of the 11th inning. His two-run double to the wall in right-center field ended the contest with one out.

Southeast, which led 2-0 before allowing two ninth-inning runs, grabbed a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th. Junior shortstop Jordan Payne, who homered earlier in the game, doubled with two outs to score sophomore right fielder Brent Lawson, who had reached on an error and stole second base.

Hudson, who had two hits Wednesday, made the leadoff error on a routine ground ball off the bat of Lawson, leading to the unearned run that looked like it might send MSU into the losers bracket.

But the Thoroughbreds took Hudson off the hook against Southeast reliever Jamie McAlister, who came on for freshman Joey Evans in the ninth.

Southeast senior second basman Bo Jenkins made a sparking play to retire Hudson leading off the 11th -- one of about a half-dozen defensive gems the Redhawks had, as they did not commit an error and turned four double plays.

But Clint Griggs singled and Alex Stewart walked. Both scored easily on Pittman's line-drive double that split the gap in right-center.

"I misplayed the ball. It happens," Hudson said of his error. "I was just hoping we'd do what we've done all year, come back. I was really glad Pittman came through."

The Thoroughbreds' two comebacks wiped out a sensational performance by Evans, the Redhawks' rookie right-hander who emerged as Southeast's No. 1 starter over the second half of the season.

Evans carried a five-hit shutout and a 2-0 lead into the ninth while looking for his team-high ninth win of the season and his team-leading sixth complete game of the year.

Hudson's line single up the middle led off the inning, but Evans retired the next batter on a ground ball, as Hudson advanced to second.

Stewart followed with a double down the right-field line, scoring Hudson to bring MSU within 2-1. With Pittman up next, Southeast coach Mark Hogan made the decision to remove Evans after he had thrown 122 pitches and MSU had just reached him for two hits.

"He threw a great game, but we had seen a lot of pitches, and I think he got a little tired," Pittman said.

Evans did not argue with Hogan's decision to take him out, but he said he would have loved to have had a shot to finish things off.

"I think I could have done it," he said.

Pittman greeted McAlister -- who has been one of Southeast's most dependable pitchers all year, either as a reliever or starter -- with an opposite-field single to left that scored Stewart with the tying run.

That's the way things stood until the 11th, when both teams scored, but the Thoroughbreds emerged victorious.

"It was a fabulous game for both sides," Hogan said. "We didn't give it to them, they earned it. The ball they beat us with was a ringing double, nothing cheap.

"Joey was superb. He really threw his heart out. And our defense was fabulous. It's bitter for our guys. They played their hearts out. But hat's off to Murray."

In 8 1/3 innings, Evans allowed seven hits and was charged with two runs. He struck out three and walked two.

Junior right-hander McAlister (4-7) took the loss, allowing four hits and two runs in two innings.

"Joey pitched great, and we played great defense," Horstman said. "But give Murray credit. They battled."

Payne drove in two runs with his double and homer, a solo shot in the seventh inning that put Southeast up 2-0. Horstman, Lawson and Jenkins also each had two of the Redhawks' 10 hits.

Horstman, who scored Southeast's first run on a balk in the third inning, extended his hitting streak to 25 games. He now has reached base safely in 47 consecutive games, believed to be the longest current streak in the nation.

Austin Swain had three of MSU's 11 hits. Hudson, Pittman and Stewart all added two.

MSU starter Craig Kraus, a right-hander, was nearly as tough as Evans, allowing nine hits and two runs in eight innings. He fanned five and walked two.

Left-hander Jon Ross Shelton (2-6) was the winner with three innings, allowing just one hit and an unearned run.

"It's going to be really tough," said Hogan of Southeast's tournament prospects. "If we're going to get back in it now, we'll really have to get on a ride offensively."