Shaky defense proves costly for Redhawks baseball team

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team outhit host Arkansas State but a bit of shaky defense by the Redhawks helped contribute to Wednesday night's 9-6 loss in Jonesboro, Ark.

Southeast fell to 20-12 with its second straight setback, which came after the Redhawks had won 14 of their previous 16 games.

ASU, ranked 32nd in one national poll, improved to 22-11 by avenging a 6-4 loss at Southeast on March 24. The Red Wolves have won four straight and 10 of 12.

The Redhawks had 11 hits compared to nine for ASU. Southeast allowed three unearned runs, which proved costly.

In addition, a potential double-play ground ball that would have ended the bottom of the sixth inning was not fielded. It was ruled a hit and ASU went on to score three runs, wiping out a 6-5 deficit and going ahead for good at 8-6.

Junior right fielder Louie Haseltine, who had homered in four straight games and 11 of the past 13 contests, did not leave the park Wednesday.

Haseltine still had a big night with two doubles and four RBIs.

Also getting two hits apiece for Southeast were junior third baseman Casey Jones and sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley.

Jones boosted his Ohio Valley Conference-leading batting average to .453, which ranks in the top 10 nationally.

Senior All-American catcher Jim Klocke extended his hitting streak to 20 games, the longest by an OVC player this season.

Southeast started strong, scoring three first-inning runs on four hits. Haseltine and Klocke had RBI doubles, while junior center fielder Blake Slattery added an RBI single.

ASU came right back with three runs in the bottom of the first off junior Nick Thomas, who went just the one inning as Southeast used seven pitchers.

Haseltine's second double of the game, a three-run shot in the fifth inning, put the Redhawks back on top 6-3. But Southeast was held scoreless the rest of the way.

The Red Wolves scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within 6-5, then went ahead to stay with their three-run sixth. They rounded out the scoring in the seventh as Southeast balked in a run.

Junior Corey Harness pitched two scoreless and hitless innings for Southeast.

Senior Kirk Boeller allowed two unearned runs and two hits in two innings. He struck out three.

Freshman Shae Simmons worked a scoreless and hitless ninth.

Junior Jacob Wente, who allowed the three sixth-inning runs, took the loss.

Southeast, in first place in the OVC at 7-2, resumes league play Saturday with a doubleheader at Tennessee-Martin.