Southeast Missouri State baseball team loses homestand finale 22-11

~ The Redhawks belted five home runs in the loss to Saint Louis

If the teams had been playing home-run derby, Southeast Missouri State would have posted a decisive victory.

The Redhawks instead suffered a lopsided loss as their longest homestand of the season that began with a bang ended with a thud.

Southeast concluded its stretch of 10 consecutive games at Capaha Field with Tuesday's wild 22-11 setback to Saint Louis University.

The Redhawks, despite outhomering SLU five to two, suffered their fourth consecutive loss after opening the homestand by winning five of six.

"We're a work in progress. We've talked about that. It's going to take some time," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad has 21 newcomers along with three redshirt freshmen on it's 34-player roster. "There's always rough spots. You don't go through a year without getting busted up."

SLU (8-5) scored six runs in the top of the first inning. Southeast starter Michael Patman recorded just one out before being relieved.

Southeast (5-8) attempted several comebacks but never got closer than 6-3 after one inning. The Redhawks trailed 10-3 after 1 1/2 frames.

"It was real crazy," Southeast All-American senior third baseman Trenton Moses said. "They're a good club. They hit the ball well. We swung the bats pretty well too."

Fans who like the long ball must have enjoyed the 3-hour, 23-minute contest. Southeast belted half as many home runs as the 10 it had through 12 games. SLU hit two-thirds of the three homers it had through 12 contests.

"I guess today was built for an offensive day," Southeast senior shortstop Kenton Parmley said.

A strong wind blew out to right field, but six of the seven round-trippers surprisingly were hit to either left or left-center and the other, Moses' second of the day, left the park in dead center.

"With the wind blowing out to right, the pitchers are forced to pitch inside," Parmley said. "We knew that."

Parmley joined Moses with two home runs. They were the first two of the season for Parmley, while Moses pushed his team-leading total to five.

Moses, who drove in four runs with his pair of two-run shots, has a team-high 19 RBIs and also leads the Redhawks with a .444 batting average.

"There were some bombs hit," Moses said.

Parmley, who had a two-run homer and a solo blast, is second on the club with a .415 average after going 3 for 4.

Parmley extended his hitting streak to 20 games dating back to last year, and he has reached base safely in his last 29 contests. Moses has reached base safely in 34 consecutive games.

Junior college transfer catcher Shane Blair had Southeast's other home run, his second of the season.

While Southeast had the upper hand in home runs, SLU outhit the Redhawks 18-12. The Billikens added five doubles to their two homers.

Sophomore Danny Brennan paced SLU's offense with four hits.

Freshman Mike Vigliarolo and junior Mike Levine had the Bills' homers. It was the first of the season for Levine and the first of Vigliarolo's career.

Senior first baseman Kody Campbell added two hits for Southeast.

"It was a pretty good offensive day for us," Hogan said.

But Southeast was held to just one run over the final five innings after putting up 10 runs over the first four frames.

SLU didn't score in the last two innings but it hardly mattered after the Bills broke things wide open with a seven-run seventh that made it 22-10.

The Redhawks' pitching staff, which returns just three hurlers and no starters from last year, continued to struggle, especially with control.

Southeast's seven pitchers combined to walk nine and hit seven batters while throwing three wild pitches. Two runs scored on wild pitches and another on a balk.

"We're just kind of in a funk on the mound right now," Hogan said. "It's tough when you give a team so many extra outs. They're trying so hard."

Juco transfer Patman (0-2) took the loss. He allowed six runs and four hits, while walking two and hitting a batter.

Three of Southeast pitchers were true freshmen, including Grant Davis and Will Spitzfaden, who both made their collegiate debuts.

Hogan said he had no issue with Southeast's effort.

"I told the guys after the game, I know nobody's happy. I'm not either," Hogan said. "But I still like the way the guys are bringing it. I appreciate the effort."

The Redhawks will have a chance to avenge the loss when the squads complete their annual two-game season series May 1 in St. Louis.

The Redhawks will play at defending Horizon League regular-season and tournament champion Wright State on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.

"We've just got to keep working hard," Moses said.