Underwood limits Panthers' offensive attack

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Southeast Missouri State lost its first game in the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament for the second year in a row.

Jordan Underwood was not to blame.

Underwood, a junior left-hander in his first season with the program, notched his third consecutive strong start.

But Underwood came away with a no-decision as fifth-seeded Eastern Illinois rallied past fourth-seeded Southeast 10-5 in 10 innings Wednesday.

"Jordan pitched his heart out," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Underwood, a junior college transfer, was given the nod to start Southeast's tournament opener after he threw five shutout innings at EIU during Saturday's regular-season finale.

"I was really looking forward to it after that start on Saturday," Underwood said of being given the ball Wednesday.

Underwood, looking for his third straight win, did all he could to give the Redhawks a solid chance at the victory.

Underwood carried a four-hitter and a 5-1 lead into the seventh inning.

He allowed consecutive one-out singles, which ended his day, but he still departed with that four-run cushion before EIU tied it later in the frame.

"Jordan was tremendous. That's probably the best outing he's had this year," Hogan said. "He completely baffled them for five innings Saturday and came right back today."

Underwood wound up allowing six hits and three runs, two earned, in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.

"Underwood pitched a great game, he really did," EIU coach Jim Schmitz said.

After what Underwood did to the Panthers on Saturday, Schmitz didn't expect anybody else to be on the mound in the tournament opener.

"I knew he was pitching. You didn't have to tell me. It was obvious," he said.

Underwood said he succeeded Wednesday in moving the ball "in and out. I thought I had pretty good command of my breaking ball."

Underwood, who started the season 0-3, is 6-5. His 4.11 ERA ranks seventh in the OVC.

"I would have liked to do this a little earlier," Underwood said of his recent strong pitching.

Noteworthy

* Junior left-fielder Michael Adamson and sophomore shortstop Kenton Parmley now are tied for first in single-season hits at Southeast. Both have 90.

* Senior catcher Jim Klocke's foul smash in the bottom of the first inning drilled Hogan in the lower leg as he was coaching third base. Hogan hobbled around for a few moments and received attention from a trainer but soon returned to his coaching duties.