PDF Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team (3-2) downed the Harris-Stowe State University Hornets (0-1) Wednesday evening, 6-4, in the Redhawk's 2014 home opener at Capaha Field. 
 
"We played a team who was playing their first game this season and they were very excited to be on the field and they put together a good game against us," said head coach Steve Bieser. "Our bullpen was lights out tonight and we hope to continue that success as the season progresses. Our offense has been slow but we will work on getting that going."
 
Harris-Stowe wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning of their season opener. Jess Cartner hit a one-out double down the left field line, advanced on an ball that dropped between Cole Bieser and Dalton Hewitt in right-center field, and scored on a sacrifice fly. 
 
The Redhawk bats came out hot in the bottom of the opening stanza. Bieser took a ball in the back to get speed on the bases with one out. He scored from first base on a double off the bat of Matt Tellor. Cole Ferguson reached on an error. Andy Lennington scored Tellor with an RBI single through the left side. Derek Gibson drove Ferguson in with a single down the right field line. Southeast led 3-1 after one inning. 
 
The Hornets tied the game in the second inning with two runs on two hits. HSSU extended the lead in the third to go up 4-3 on Southeast. 
 
The Redhawks tied the game in the in the bottom of the third when Lennington drew a leadoff walk then scored on an sacrifice fly off the bat of Andy Lack. 
 
Southeast scored the go-ahead runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Bieser drew a leadoff walk to start the inning. With two out, Lennington singled to third base and Bieser advanced to third on a throwing error by the third baseman. The go-ahead run came on a perfectly executed double steal as Lennington swiped second and Bieser stole home to give Southeast the lead. Hewitt reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, allowing Lennington to score and go up 6-4 on Southeast. 
 
The offense on both sides remind silent for the remainder of the game as Southeast held on for the win. 
 
Brady Wright (1-0) picked up his first win in a Redhawk uniform after coming in in relief in the fifth inning. Wright pitched 2.0 innings giving up no runs or hits while only walking one batter. 
 
"The key tonight was Brady coming in with two on and no one out and working out of that inning. That was the turning point in the game for us." 
 
Redhawk starter, freshman Andrew Croucher, had 4.0 innings of work, giving up four runs on seven hits to the Hornets. Croucher walked two batters and struck out three, including the first batter he faced in his collegiate career. 
 
The Redhawks bullpen was solid again, Wednesday. Aside from Wright, Alex Siddle, Skylar Cobb, and Garret Stockton all pitched 1.0 innings, combining for only three hits. Stockton earned his second save of the season. 
 
"Garret came in and looked really crisp tonight; he left a few balls up but otherwise looked good in a save situation tonight."
 
Offensively for Southeast, Tellor and Lennington each had two hits and an RBI. Lennington scored two runs in the game. 
 
Southeast was outhit in the contest, 10-8. 
 
Southeast Missouri will continue the home stand this weekend as the IPFW Mastodons come to Cape Girardeau.