Southeast loses opener, shortstop

~ The Redhawks suffered a 4-2 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- The Southeast Missouri State baseball team outscored the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 32-3 in sweeping a three-game series last season.

But any thoughts the Redhawks had of similar success against the Lions this year went out the window in a hurry.

Southeast dropped its 2008 opener Friday night as the host Lions posted a 4-2 victory.

In addition, sophomore shortstop Nick Harris suffered a knee injury in the top of the ninth inning as he broke from the batter's box following a ground ball.

Harris had to be helped off the field and his status was not immediately known.

Southeast managed just three hits as UAPB rallied from a 2-1 deficit after five innings.

Sophomore left-hander Josh Syberg allowed just one hit and an unearned run in five innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

Senior Dustin Renfrow, Southeast's ace, allowed a hit and a run in one inning.

Senior Ivan Nails suffered the loss as he gave up four hits and two runs in two innings.

Southeast jumped on top with a run in the second inning. Junior college transfer right fielder Tyrell Cummings reached on a one-out error and scored on senior left fielder's Sean Zollner's double.

The Redhawks scored their final run in the fifth as they broke a 1-1 tie. Harris singled with one out, went to third on a throwing error and came home on a sacrifice fly by senior second baseman Zak Blemker.

But the Lions rallied with a run in the sixth off Renfrow, then went ahead for good with two in the seventh off Nails.

Southeast failed to take advantage of six UAPB errors.

The teams will continue their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.