Southeast Missouri State baseball team drops series to Panthers

~ The Southeast baseball team lost 13-3 the day after scoring 25 runs against the same Eastern Illinois squad

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team hit Eastern Illinois with an eight-run second inning Saturday on the way to setting a school record for runs in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

EIU countered with its own eight-run second inning Sunday and bounced back from Saturday's 25-6 loss to win the three-game weekend series in Charleston, Ill.

The host Panthers romped 13-3 on Sunday and broke the Redhawks' streak of winning their past three OVC series. Southeast lost for just the fourth time in its last 12 league contests.

Southeast (20-21, 12-9) remained fifth in the 11-team OVC. EIU (14-22, 5-12) is 10th.

"It was very frustrating with how we were going about our business today," said Southeast coach Steve Bieser, whose squad was held to a total of five runs in the first and third games of the series. "You put up numbers like that in one day and you expect it to be easy the next day. We weren't ready to grind it out."

EIU, much like in Friday's 4-2 series-opening victory, took advantage of shaky Southeast defense to grab control early.

The Redhawks were charged with just one error during EIU's eight-run inning but failed to record outs on several balls that probably should have been fielded and went for hits. Four of the runs were earned.

"There were plays we just didn't make, balls that should be caught that didn't get caught. We've got to fix that," Bieser said.

EIU had seven hits, including three doubles, in the frame. Junior Tyler Schweigert and sophomore Brant Valach each delivered two-RBI doubles.

Senior Trevor Kill (0-2) lasted just 1 1/3 innings and suffered the loss. Bieser said he didn't pitch nearly as badly as his statistical line indicated. Kill was charged with seven runs, four earned. He allowed six hits and walked one.

"It wasn't all his fault," Bieser said.

Junior Luke Shearrow, continuing to excel out of the bullpen, stemmed the tide after relieving Kill. Shearrow allowed two runs -- one earned -- and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one.

"He's been outstanding," Bieser said.

Southeast was shut out until scoring a run in the sixth inning. Sophomore Dalton Hewitt led off with a single, went to third on junior Derek Gibson's one-out single and came home on a sacrifice fly by junior Josh Meade.

EIU made it 9-1 in the bottom of the sixth and added four runs in the eighth inning to go up 13-1.

The Redhawks rounded out the scoring with two unearned runs in the ninth inning, including an RBI single by sophomore Nolan Fisher. Southeast had three of its seven hits in the final frame.

Southeast was outhit 15-7. Gibson led the Redhawks with two hits. Sophomore Jason Blum extended his hitting streak to 14 games.

Valach went 4 for 5 with three doubles and four RBIs to pace the Panthers.

EIU sophomore Matt Borens (2-4) allowed one earned run, struck out seven and walked one in his first collegiate complete game.

"Give him credit. He threw a good ballgame, and we didn't do what we needed to do," Bieser said.

Southeast returns to action Tuesday, visiting SIU Carbondale for a 3 p.m. nonconference matchup.

The Salukis hammered the Redhawks 25-3 on April 9 in Cape Girardeau as Southeast tied a school record for most runs allowed.