Redhawks tumble to Salukis 7-0 on road

~ The Southeast baseball team fell to 18-11 on the season.

Southeast Missouri State's problems in midweek, nonconference baseball games continued Tuesday.

The Redhawks lost their fourth straight midweek contest, falling to regional rival Southern Illinois University 7-0 in Carbondale, Ill.

Southeast (18-11) has been outscored 48-6 in its past four midweek contests.

SIU (13-18) won for just the second time in its last seven games.

The Redhawks, who are a second-place 8-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference and had won eight of their previous 10 contests, feature one of the OVC's top offenses.

But Southeast's bats have been silent in recent midweek play. The Redhawks managed just five hits Tuesday as they were shut out for the first time this season.

SIU junior left-hander Jimmy Cornell, a Poplar Bluff native who attended Three Rivers Community College, combined with three relievers to shut down Southeast.

Cornell (2-1) allowed just one hit through five innings and gave up three hits before leaving after six innings. He struck out three and walked one.

The Salukis had 11 hits and were aided by nine walks issued by four Southeast hurlers.

Southeast gave sophomore Corey Harness his first start of the season. Harness (0-1), who had pitched just six innings this year, allowed three runs, two earned, and four hits in 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

Sophomore Brad LaBruyere was the only Southeast pitcher to emerge unscathed as he worked a scoreless ninth inning.

SIU broke on top for good with a two-run first inning and built a 5-0 lead through five innings.

Senior catcher Mark Kelly paced SIU's offense by going 4-for-5. Senior second baseman Scott Elmendorf delivered a two-run homer in the seventh inning to complete the scoring.

Sophomore third baseman Trenton Moses and senior second baseman Tony Spencer each doubled for Southeast.

The Redhawks resume OVC play Friday with a doubleheader at Murray State that begins a three-game series.