CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (0-5) collected a season-high 11 hits and nearly overcame a nine-run deficit in a 9-7 loss to Bowling Green (1-3) Friday afternoon in the Redhawks home-opener at Capaha Field.
SEMO dropped to 18-9 all-time in home-openers since joining the NCAA Division I ranks in 1992.
BGSU built a 9-0 lead in the first four innings, scoring two in the first, four in the third and three in the fourth.
Brad Croy hit a two-out, two-RBI double to grab the Falcons a 2-0 edge in the first.
Cleanup hitter Randy Righter doubled home Neil Lambert and Croy knocked in Gama Martinez on a single to left field. Righter later touched home on a wild pitch and Croy scored when Jeff Scott grounded out to extend BGSU's lead to 6-0 in the third.
The Falcons scored three unearned runs after SEMO committed two errors in the fourth inning. Croy had another RBI-hit, this time on a two-out double down the left field line.
SEMO got on the board with a two-run home run by
Wade Stauss in the bottom of the fourth. The round-tripper, which scored
Tristen Gagan, was Stauss' team-high second of the season.
The Redhawks then sent 10 men to the plate and scored five runs in a big seventh inning.
Chase Urhahn,
Connor Basler and
Danny Wright all singled to right field to quickly load the bases.
Justin Dirden followed with a double down the right field line scoring both Basler and Urhahn.
Trevor Ezell, who extended his hitting streak to five games, singled home Wright. Gagan added a single on the next play and Dirden scored. Pinch-hitter
Hunter Southerland drove in Ezell on a single to left field to narrow BGSU's lead to 9-7.
Croy sat the Redhawks down in order in the eighth inning and retired six of the final seven SEMO hitters to get his first save of the year.
Zac Carey (1-0) picked up the win, allowing six runs on eight hits in six innings. Carey struck out two and walked two, as well.
Croy struck out five and gave up just one run on three hits in the final three innings.
Joey Burris (0-1) suffered the loss. Burris pitched just 2.1 innings, giving up six runs, six hits, walking three and striking out two.
Aaron Stretch tossed four scoreless, no-hit innings with three strikeouts in a nice outing out of the bullpen. Stretch and fellow reliever
Christian Vick combined to throw 5.1 no-hit, shutout innings with five strikeouts.
Wright, Dirden and Gagan each had two hits and scored for SEMO. Dirden and Stauss also notched two RBI. Seven different Redhawks scored a run.
Croy went 3-for-5 with a run scored, two doubles and four RBI as the Falcons finished with eight hits.
SEMO and BGSU resume their series at 11 a.m., CT, Saturday.
