Southeast Missouri State baseball team encounters first loss

~ OrAL ROBERTS avoided a sweep with a 6-2 victory

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team could muster just five hits as it came up short in its attempt to sweep Oral Roberts in the final game of season-opening three-game series Sunday in Tulsa, Okla.

The 6-2 loss was the first setback of the season for the Redhawks, who fell to 2-1.

Southeast staked starting pitcher Ryan Lenaburg, who was making his Redhawks debut, to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Matt Tellor. Leadoff batter Jason Blum had reached on an infield single, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cole Bieser.

The lead was short lived as Oral Roberts scored twice in the bottom of the inning, the first run scoring on a bloop single to right field by Matt Brandy. The Golden Eagles later took the lead on a bases-loaded walk to Brandon Healy.

Southeast Missouri state pitcher Ryan Lenaburg delivers to an Oral Roberts batter Sunday. Lenaburg, who started and took the loss, pitched four innings in his Redhawks debut.

Oral Roberts added an unearned run in the second for a 3-1 advantage.

Southeast closed the gap to 3-2 in the sixth inning on an RBI single by catcher Scott Mitchell.

However, Oral Roberts again retaliated with two runs in the home half against reliever Brady Wright. Joey Migliaccio had an RBI double in the inning, and he scored on a single by Jose Trevino.

The Golden Eagles, who had 10 hits, added a single run in the eighth inning.

The first three batters in Oral Roberts' lineup all had two hits, while the top six spots accounted for all 10 hits.

Lenaburg pitched four innings and took the loss. He allowed five hits, walked three and struck out one. Two of the three runs he allowed were earned.

Scott City graduate Skylar Cobb pitched 2/3 of an inning and allowed one hit. Wright allowed two runs and three hits in one inning, while Alex Siddle allowed one run and one hit over 2 1/3 innings.

Oral Roberts starting pitcher Gavin Gianz allowed three hits over 5 2/3 innings for the win. He struck out four and walked two. He allowed both Southeast runs.

Blum, Tellor, Mitchell, Cole Ferguson and Branden Boggetto accounted for the Redhawks' five hits.

Southeast will make its home debut at 3 p.m. Tuesday when it will host the University of Arkansas-Little Rock at Capaha Field.