Southeast Missouri State baseballl team drops 8-1 decision to Missouri State

~ The Southeast baseball team saw its losing streak stretch to five games

The Missouri State University baseball team has thrived this year thanks primarily to a dominant pitching staff and a strong defense.

Those elements were at work Tuesday, and the Bears also received help from an offense that was more productive than usual.

The combination was too much for Southeast Missouri State as visiting MSU kept the Redhawks in a funk, romping 8-1 at Capaha Field.

MSU, an experienced squad that is the preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite, improved to 16-6.

"They're as good as advertised. It didn't surprise me," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "They're an elite program picked to win a very good league."

Southeast, an inexperienced team, fell to 7-15 with its fifth consecutive loss. The Redhawks have been outscored 64-17 during the skid.

Southeast has dropped 11 of its last 13 contests, although eight of the 15 losses have been by one run or two runs.

"You've just got to stay positive," Southeast All-American senior third baseman Trenton Moses said.

The Redhawks have been through a grueling stretch that has seen them play nine games in 11 days in three different time zones.

It didn't help matters that Southeast spent virtually all of Sunday and part of Monday in an Albuquerque airport due to travel problems following a series at New Mexico State.

The Redhawks, forced to spend Sunday night at the airport, didn't arrive back in Cape Girardeau until 1 p.m. Monday -- 30 hours after they checked out of their Las Cruces motel.

"I knew this would be a tough game even without the trip we had, with the way they're playing," Hogan said. "It's been a rough stretch for us. But we've got a great group of kids. I still believe in them and our staff. I don't want our fans to give up on us.

"It's not like anybody's out there not giving it their best. Right now things just aren't going our way."

MSU coach Keith Gutten had sympathy for what the Redhawks went through in New Mexico.

"We caught them at a bad time for them with that trip," Guttin said. "They'll get it going."

The Bears entered play ranked 20th nationally with a glittering 2.71 ERA. They also boasted a sparkling .975 fielding percentage.

Four MSU hurlers combined for 10 strikeouts and only two walks to hold down a squad that was averaging nearly seven runs runs per game, best in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Bears also recorded several defensive gems. Neither side committed an error.

"We knew we'd have to be pretty flawless," Moses said. "They pitch well. They threw strikes."

MSU was batting just .260, seventh-worst in the eight-team MVC, and averaging only five runs per game. The Bears had 11 hits Tuesday and batted .324.

"Pitching and defense have been our strengths," Guttin said. "I still think we'll hit the ball better. We've got a lot of these guys back from last year. We hit the ball better today."

The Redhawks managed eight hits but stranded eight runners.

"We had some chances early but they pitched around it," Hogan said.

Southeast's new-look pitching staff, which was short of available arms, had its moments but overall continued to struggle.

The Redhawks have an OVC-worst 7.68 ERA that ranks among the highest in the country. They rank among the national leaders in walks issued with 146, adding six to the total Tuesday.

Hogan was forced to adjust his plans when junior college transfer Zack Smith, the scheduled starter, told the coaching staff before the game that he couldn't go.

"I really don't know what the deal is, but he said he couldn't throw. We had to scramble," Hogan said.

Juco transfer Dylan Lynn, making his first Southeast start, fired three hitless innings. Lynn was then lifted because Hogan might need him this weekend when OVC play begins. Lynn struck out one and walked two.

"He did a good job," Hogan said. "But we were a little short on pitching."

Juco transfer Michael Patman (0-3) started the fourth but didn't make it out of the inning. The Bears broke a scoreless tie with three runs. All the damage came with two outs.

A single and two walks loaded the bases. Keenen Maddox delivered a two-RBI single and Trey Massenberg followed with an RBI single.

Trevor Kill relieved Patman and avoided further damage. He wound up allowing just one run in 2 1/3 innings.

"Two outs, nobody on," Hogan said about MSU's three-run fourth. "We were close to getting out of the inning. ... It's kind of what's been happening to us."

Moses led off the bottom of the fourth with his ninth home run of the season, tied for the OVC lead.

Things remained 3-1 until the sixth inning, when MSU's Brent Seifert blasted a solo homer. The Bears broke things open with a four-run seventh.

"It's frustrating. We can't put it together," Moses said.

Moses went 2 for 3, extending his hitting streak to 13 games. He has reached base safely in 43 consecutive contests dating back to last year.

Moses, in addition to being tied for the OVC home-run lead, tops the league in batting (.481) and RBIs (30) along with several other categories.

Senior shortstop Kenton Parmley, batting .414, singled and now has a 29-game hitting streak dating back to last year. He has reached base safely in 38 consecutive contests.

Southeast will host defending OVC regular-season and tournament champion Austin Peay at 3 p.m. Friday to begin conference play. The squads also will have games at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

"We start a new season Friday," Moses said.