Southeast drops doubleheader at EIU

Southeast Missouri State's baseball woes continued Saturday, as the Redhawks dropped a doubleheader at Eastern Illinois and moved closer to the bottom of the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

The Redhawks fell 7-6 in the opener and 5-1 in the second game. Southeast, in ninth place in the 10-team league heading into Saturday's doubleheader, fell to 6-11 in the OVC and 15-26 overall. Southeast has lost five straight games, including three conference contests.

The series will conclude today with a 1 p.m. game.

Eastern Illinois, tied for third in the conference heading into Saturday's action, improved to 10-7 in the OVC and 23-17 overall.

In the opener, Southeast loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth down 7-5, but managed just one run. Phillip Riley hit an infield pop fly for the first out of the inning. Levi Olson was hit by a pitch to drive in a run. Daniel Schuh then grounded into a game-ending double play.

Riley, Olson and Schuh each had two hits in the opening game, and Riley and Olson had two RBIs apiece. Andrew Johnson added a home run.

Asif Shah lasted just 3 1/3 innings in the starting role, and Jamie McAlister took the loss. McAlister allowed three runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

In the seven-inning second game, Southeast jumped in front 1-0 with a leadoff double by Omar Padilla and an RBI by Andrew Graham in the first inning.

Eastern Illinois scored three runs on three hits in the second to take the lead for good.

Panthers starter Kenny Firlit held the Redhawks to six hits in a complete-game victory.

Anthony Maupin pitched all six innings for Southeast, allowing 10 hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Padilla and Schuh had two hits apiece.