Southeast baseball team wins home opener

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team used consistency at the plate and a shutdown bullpen to defeat Harris-Stowe State University in its home opener Wednesday at Capaha Park.

"They're a very scrappy ballclub, and they weren't going to let up," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said. "We had to make sure we stuck to our game plan and had consistent quality at-bats, which usually produce results for us."

The Redhawks (3-2) took the lead for good with a two-run fourth inning and did not allow another run for the rest of the game in a 6-4 victory.

Cole Bieser led off of the bottom of the fourth inning by facing 16 pitches before reaching base with a leadoff walk.

"I'm very selective early because my job at the top of the lineup is to get on base," said Bieser, the No. 2 batter in the Redhawks lineup. "I'm comfortable with two strikes, and I don't mind fouling balls off or looking stupid when I swing. But if I can get a good pitch early, I'll swing at that as well."

Southeast Missouri State starter Andrew Croucher pitches to a Harris-Stowe batter during the first inning Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Andy Lennington followed Bieser and reached first base on a throwing error. On the next pitch, Lennington stole second, drawing a throw from the Harris Stowe catcher. At the same time, Bieser stole home, giving the Redhawks a lead they never relinquished. Lennington later scored on another error in the inning.

"Our process is to just get it to the next guy up," Cole Bieser said. "Whether it's a hit by pitch, a walk or single it doesn't matter, that way you get guys into scoring position so we can do things like get sac flies or double steals. We just want to play fundamental baseball, and we were able to do a lot of those things right tonight."

Southeast's bullpen was strong for a second day in a row. The Redhawks' relievers did not allow a hit in three innings in a 1-0 loss to the University of Arkansas-Little Rock on Tuesday. Relievers Brady Wright, Alex Siddle, Skylar Cobb and Garret Stockton helped Southeast to a victory by allowing just three hits over five innings of work on Wednesday.

"They've been very solid for us already," Steve Bieser said of his bullpen. "Last night and again today we had an outstanding performance from our guys, and I think the key for them is that they're staying locked in the entire game reading hitters and not just when they're called on to pitch."

The Hornets took a lead in the top of the first inning when Alex Mancillas hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Jess Cartner.

Southeast Missouri State's Cole Bieser reaches third base safely as Harris-Stowe's Jonathan Alvarez takes the late throw during the second inning Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Southeast replied by scoring three runs in the bottom half of the inning. After Cole Bieser was hit by a pitch, Matt Tellor doubled to center field driving in Bieser from first base. The Redhawks extended their lead when Lennnigton singled to drive in Tellor.

Cole Ferguson then reached on an error by the third baseman and Derek Gibson followed with a single down the right field line allowing Ferguson to reach home plate.

Southeast starting pitcher Andrew Croucher gave up two earned runs on just two hits in the second inning. One run scored on a fielder's choice while the second run of the inning came on a wild pitch. Croucher threw a curveball that missed his catcher's target, and the ball bounced all the way to the backstop allowing a run to score easily from third base.

Croucher gave up another run in the top of the third inning on a sacrifice fly, but the Hornets did not score over the final six innings of play.

Croucher pitched four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.

The Redhawks are set to open a three-game weekend series against Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne at Capaha Park at 3 p.m. Friday.