Southeast Missouri State baseball team's mistakes add up to 8-6 loss to Memphis

~ Visiting Memphis won the opener of the three-game series

A huge seventh inning had the Southeast Missouri State baseball team threatening to kick off its final regular-season series with a big win over a strong Memphis squad.

But the five-run frame that forged a 6-6 tie was soured when the Redhawks had the go-ahead run thrown out at the plate twice, once with nobody out.

Southeast then committed two errors in the top of the eighth inning, gift-wrapping an unearned run for the visiting Tigers, who added a ninth-inning insurance tally.

The Redhawks were left with a disappointing 8-6 loss Thursday night at Capaha Field in the opener of a three-game nonconference set.

"So sloppy the way we played," said Southeast coach Steve Bieser, whose squad committed four errors compared to none for the Tigers. "We gave the game away. We just made too many mistakes."

Southeast, locked into sixth place in the 11-team Ohio Valley Conference, fell to 22-31 by losing for the 11th time in its last 13 games.

Memphis, second in nine-team Conference USA, improved to 33-21 as the Tigers have posted three straight seasons of at least 30 wins.

Both squads begin their respective conference tournaments next week.

"We had every chance to win that game," sophomore right fielder Dalton Hewitt said.

Southeast dug itself an early hole as Memphis scored four first-inning runs on two hits, a walk, a hit batter and an error on catcher's interference.

"I thought we came out pretty flat. Then we settled in and we fought hard," freshman shortstop Branden Boggetto said.

Considering that the Tigers entered the night with a Conference USA-best 2.81 earned-run average that ranks 17th nationally, things did not look good for the Redhawks after they fell behind early.

But things began looking up for Southeast when junior left-hander Sam Moll -- one of the Tigers' top three starters who all have an ERA of 2.52 or below -- was lifted after throwing only 64 pitches in six innings.

"We could have left him in longer but we're preparing for the [conference] tournament, like Southeast Missouri is," Memphis coach Daron Schoenrock said.

Moll left with a 6-1 lead, having allowed just two hits -- Southeast's only baserunners off him -- while striking out seven. He lowered his ERA to 2.32.

"He's a very good pitcher," Bieser said.

The Redhawks jumped all over senior reliever Heith Hatfield, who entered with a sparkling 2.38 ERA of his own.

Hatfield did not retire any of the six batters he faced, allowing four hits and walking two.

Southeast's big seventh inning started when junior left fielder Derek Gibson drew a walk. Junior first baseman Matt Tellor followed with a single, and Boggetto's double plated Gibson while sending Tellor to third.

Hewitt's two-run single made it 6-4.

Sophomore third baseman Nolan Fisher walked and sophomore DH Ryan Barnes, trying to sacrifice, reached on a single as Hatfield slipped while going to field the bunt.

Junior Josh Meade, pinch-hitting against senior reliever Clayton Gant with the bases loaded, drilled a double into the left-field corner.

Two runs scored easily to tie the contest, but Barnes was gunned down at the plate and Memphis completed the unusual 7-6-2-5 double play when Meade was thrown out at third.

"We had them on the ropes. We tried to push the envelope," Bieser said. "[Southeast would have had] second and third, nobody out. ... we probably should have been a little more patient."

Boggetto singled for his second hit of the inning and went to second on a wild pitch. Hewitt followed with his second hit of the frame, a single to right, but Boggetto was gunned down at the plate by an on-the-fly bullet from sophomore right fielder Carter White.

"They didn't make any mistakes. They made great throws to the plate," Hewitt said.

Memphis quickly regained the lead in the eighth inning off senior closer Bobby Hurst, thanks to plenty of help from Southeast.

Sophomore first baseman Tucker Tubbs singled with one out. Junior third baseman Drew Griffin's double-play ball to shortstop was booted by Boggetto and a two-out wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third.

Sophomore DH Nate Rupiper tapped a slow roller back to Hurst, but he could not make connections with the ball as it bounced between his legs for the second error of the inning as the go-ahead run scored easily.

"We fought hard and came back but we gave them some back. Too many mistakes," Boggetto said.

Junior center fielder Ford Wilson's first home run of the season leading off the ninth inning gave the Tigers a bit more breathing room at 8-6.

Southeast did not go down quietly in the ninth. Fisher singled with one out, Barnes walked and freshman catcher Tyler Boxwell sacrificed.

Junior Jonathan Van Eaton, the Tigers' career saves leader, came on to get a ground ball for the final out as he notched his 12th save of the year.

"You have to give credit to Southeast Missouri. They made a great comeback," Schoenrock said. "It was kind of a strange game. Basically the difference was we made all the plays."

Sophomore left-hander Will Spitzfaden, after a rocky start, settled in and pitched seven innings. He allowed six hits and six runs, four earned, while striking out three and walking one.

"It took 'Spitz' a while to get in a groove, but once he did he threw very well," Bieser said.

Hurst (3-4) took the loss, allowing two hits and two runs, one earned, in 1 2/3 innings.

Southeast outhit Memphis 10-8, seven of the Redhawks' hits coming in the seventh inning.

Hewitt and Fisher led the Redhawks with two hits apiece. Tubbs paced the Tigers with three hits.

The teams will square off at 7 p.m. today and at 1 p.m. Saturday in the final regular-season game for both squads.