MT. PLEASANT, S.C. – Southeast Missouri (0-3) rallied late, but came up short in a 5-4 loss to the College of Charleston (3-0) Sunday at Patriots Point.
CofC completed a three-game sweep of SEMO on opening weekend.
The Redhawks trailed, 5-0, after five innings before scoring twice in the sixth and eighth frames to pull to within a run.
Cole Bornhop led off the sixth with a single to center and advanced to third on an ensuing double by
Peyton Faulkner. Bornhop scored when
Danny Wright grounded out and Faulkner came home on a single by
Wade Stauss to narrow the Cougars lead to 5-2.
Faulkner reached again in the eighth, this time starting things off with an infield single.
Devon Wilson was hit by a pitch and the Redhawks were in business with runners at first and second and one out. After
Trevor Ezell struck out,
Justin Dirden doubled down the left field line to score both Wilson and Faulkner as SEMO closed CofC's lead to 5-4.
However, right-hander Carter Love pitched a perfect ninth inning allowing the Cougars to hang on. Love nailed down his second save of the season.
Jakob Frishmuth (1-0) earned the win allowing four hits, two runs and a walk, while striking out two in five innings. Nathan Ocker later gave up two hits, two runs and struck out four in 2.2 innings before Carter entered the game.
Daniel Bergtholdt (0-1) fell to his first loss of the season. Bergtholdt worked three innings and gave up two runs on four hits. He also struck out three and walked one.
Reliever
Matthew Wade was charged with the other three runs. He scattered four hits and struck out three, as well.
SEMO finished the series finale with eight hits. Ezell and Faulkner each went 2-for-3. Dirden, Wright and Stauss each added RBI-hits. Faulkner also scored two runs.
Eight of CofC's nine hits came from the top half of the order. Dupree Hart went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a run scored in the leadoff position and Logan McRae went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored out of the cleanup spot. Luke Morgan and Tommy Richter accounted for the other three hits.
SEMO visits Arkansas State for its first midweek tilt on Feb. 20.
