CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Southeast Missouri (13-12) had only three hits in an 11-2 loss to Arkansas State (17-8) Tuesday night at Capaha Field.
ASU scored the game's first run on a solo home run to right center by Sky-Lar Culver in the top of the second inning.
The Redhawks answered during their at-bat in the second when
Hunter Southerland smacked a home run down the left field line. Southerland's team-high third home run tied the game at 1-1.
ASU quickly regained the lead when it scored two runs with two outs in the third. Drew Tipton led off with a double to left field and went to third on Eli Davis' groundout to second. With two outs, Kyle MacDonald doubled to right center and Tipton scored. Culver followed with an infield hit to bring home MacDonald pushing the Red Wolves' lead to 3-1.
Two innings later, ASU loaded the bases and scored four runs on three hits to blow the game open.
Alex Howard struck out but was safe at first due to a wild pitch. Culver delivered a one-out single to get Howard to third. Justin Felix was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Jaylon Deshazier walked allowing Howard to score. Tyler Duncan hit a RBI-single and Tipton ripped a two-RBI base hit to left widening ASU's lead to 7-1.
The Red Wolves added another run in the seventh inning thanks to a single by Felix, two wild pitches and an error.
Southerland scored SEMO's final run on a one-out triple by
Alex Nielsen in the bottom of the seventh. For Nielsen, it was his second triple of the season.
ASU tacked on three more runs in the ninth to complete the win.
Ten SEMO pitchers took the mound with starter
Bryan McNeely (0-1) striking out two, walking one and giving up a run on three hits in two innings. The other nine pitched less than two innings. In all, Redhawk pitchers issued seven walks, threw five wild pitches and hit two batters for the night.
SEMO was one-hit through five innings. Two of the Redhawks three hits went for extra bases by way of Southerland's home run and Nielsen's triple.
ASU pounded out 15 hits. Tipton and Culver each had three and teamed up for five RBI. Felix followed with two hits and chipped in three runs scored.
Tonight's game was SEMO's longest of the season lasting three hours and 42 minutes.
SEMO returns to Ohio Valley Conference play with a three-game series at Eastern Illinois this weekend.