Southeast Missouri State baseball team sweeps weekend series in Arkansas

Southeast junior right fielder Daniel Costello had his second consecutive multi-RBI game as the Southeast Missouri State baseball team completed a three-game sweep of host Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Sunday with an 8-2 victory.

Costello, a transfer from Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, belted the Redhawks' first home run of the season and collected three RBIs on two hits. A day earlier, Costello, who throws right-handed and bats from the left side, drove in four runs in a 9-2 victory.

The Redhawks, who also won 10-0 on Friday, outscored Pine Bluff 27-4 over the weekend. Southeast (4-3) has won four games in a row after a season-opening three-game sweep at the hands of Lamar.

Southeast scored three runs in the first inning, added two in the fifth and a single run in the sixth in staking starting pitcher Robert Beltran to a 6-0 lead.

Beltran (1-1), a junior transfer, pitched 5 1/3 innings in recording his first win for the Redhawks. He gave up seven hits and two earned runs while striking out three and walking one.

Daniel Costello returns to the dugout after blasting a solo home run against Arkansas-Pine Bluff during the sixth inning of Sunday's game in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Southeast won 8-2.WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to Southeast Missourian

Junior transfer Justin Murphy held the Golden Lions (0-7) scoreless over the final 3 2/3 innings for his first save. He allowed three hits, struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Pine Bluff outhit the Redhawks 10-8, but its five pitchers issued seven walks and hit two batters.

Starter Ashton Holdridge lasted just 2/3 of an inning, departing after issuing three walks and a hit. He was relieved by Blake Estep, who was greeted by Costello with a two-run single.

Junior transfer Dan Holst, who also had three RBIs, added a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning before Costello unloaded a solo blast to right field in the sixth off Estep, who allowed seven hits and three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings.

Holst added his final RBI in a two-run ninth when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Senior shortstop Branden Boggetto had three of the Redhawks' hits and scored three times. Leadoff batter Trevor Ezell also scored three times.

Southeast will return to action Wednesday with a 3 p.m. contest against Southern Illinois in Carbondale, Illinois, where Redhawks senior pitcher Jacob Lawrence is scheduled to make his first start of the season.