SEMO baseball falls to MTSU in midweek clash

Tuesday’s midweek contest between the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks felt eerily similar to Sunday’s game for Redhawks fans.

Like in Sunday’s 10-9 loss to Toledo, one bad inning burned the Redhawks in an 8-2 loss to the Blue Raiders.

“We just have to throw strikes,” Redhawks catcher Shea McGahan said. “Leadoff walks always hurt you and not hitting your spots can always cost you. We just have to get more strikes through the zone instead of working around the zone.”

The Redhawks found themselves chasing the game from the onset as the Blue Raiders jumped out to a 1-0 lead thanks to a 1-out single.

After failing to score in the home half of the first, things got worse for Southeast in the top half of the second.

With three runs already across, Middle Tennessee’s Jackson Galloway ripped a 3 RBI triple into right-field to extend the lead to 6-0.

Getting the ball for the Redhawks was Alex Hayes, and he lasted just 1.2 innings, allowing 6 earned runs on four hits while walking two.

Credit the Redhawks as they wouldn’t just lie down as Shea McGahan launched a 2-run home run to cut into the lead and make it 6-2.

“I saw a beach ball to be honest,” McGahan said. “I was able to turn on it, it was a good pitch to swing at it and I took advantage.”

Outside of the McGahan blast, the Redhawks would get baserunners aboard, but they just couldn’t scratch any runs across.

“We’ve just got to keep a good attitude and keep our composure,” McGahan said. “Those are going to start falling.”

Aside from the top of the second, the Redhawks pitching settled in allowing just a pair of runs the rest of the way.

“I think if they give us a chance we’re going to win a lot of ballgames,” McGahan said. “I think they gave us a chance today. Aside from the second inning there weren’t too many runs.”

Following up Hayes was Eddie White who tossed 3.1 innings allowing one run on five hits.

After White, the Redhawks turned to Esteban Hernandez, as he was unable to record an out while allowing a run.

Gavin Johnston and Logan Katen combined to throw the final three innings and hold the Blue Raiders at 8 runs.

Southeast (6-8) hits the road at 5 pm on Friday, March 8, when the Redhawks take on Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia.

“We just need to regroup,” McGahan said. “We have an off day tomorrow to recover the bodies and refocus.”