Redhawks suffer weekend sweep

Southeast lost both ends of a doubleheader on Sunday to Eastern Kentucky and dropped all three games over the weekend RICHMOND, Ky. -- There wasn't much separating Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Kentucky over the weekend -- except that the Colonels swept the three-game series.

Despite outscoring Southeast by just four runs, EKU came away with all the victories. The host Colonels swept Sunday's doubleheader 12-11 and 3-1, after winning Saturday's contest 3-2 in 11 innings.

Southeast, which fell to 16-26 overall and 7-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play, never led in the series, but the Redhawks were tied late in all three games. Southeast is in a three-way tie for sixth place in the 10-team league.

EKU improved to 19-21 and 10-7. The Colonels have won nine straight.

The Redhawks suffered their eighth one-run loss of the season in Sunday's opener, despite rallying from deficits of 5-0 and 10-6 to forge a 10-10 tie, thanks to a four-run sixth inning.

But EKU broke the deadlock with two in its half of the sixth. Southeast got one run back in the seventh and had two runners on base before the Colonels were able to close the door and end the contest.

Southeast had 16 hits, led by Brent Lawson's 3-for-4 performance that included two runs batted in.

Freddy Lopez had two hits and four RBIs, Levi Olson added two hits and three RBIs, while Eric Horstman and Bo Jenkins both contributed two hits. Southeast stranded 11 runners.

Derek Herbig started but lasted just 1 2/3 innings, allowing five hits and five runs, with two strikeouts and two walks.

Andy Johnson gave up one run but no hits in 1 1/3 innings, followed by Jamie McAlister, who allowed four runs and five hits in two innings.

Bill Clayton (0-1) took the loss as he was charged with the two sixth-inning runs while not retiring a batter. Lawson actually allowed the game-winning, two-run double by Will Whisenant in the sixth inning. He recorded all three outs in the sixth.

Bryan Stevenson had two hits and five RBIs to lead EKU's 12-hit attack. He had a three-run home run, while Tony Wells also homered.

In the nightcap, Southeast reverted back to its struggling offensive form of most of the season, as the Redhawks entered the series averaging barely four runs per game.

EKU pitcher Nick Barte limited the Redhawks to just four hits, as Southeast wasted a strong performance from Ryan Forsyth, who carried a 1-1 tie into the sixth inning.

The Colonels came up with two runs on just one hit. Three walks loaded the bases, and with two outs, pinch-hitter Aaron Landis -- a seldom-used freshman - delivered a two-RBI double for the first OVC hit of his career.

Barte (2-2) struck out eight and walked one in his first career complete game. Forsyth (2-3) gave up just five hits, but he walked six to go along with one strikeout.

EKU scored the game's first run in the second, before Southeast tied things in the fifth on a two-out, RBI single by Jenkins. But the Redhawks were silenced after that.

Lawson went 2-for-3 to lead Southeast, making him 5-for-7 in the doubleheader. Horstman added three hits on the day, as he went 6-for-11 in the series. Jenkins also had three hits Sunday.

Southeast plays a non-conference home contest Wednesday, against Evansville, then hosts first-place Morehead State this weekend in a three-game OVC series.