Southeast Missouri State baseball team drops series to Wright St.

~ The Redhawks fell 6-5 in the deciding game of the series

Southeast Missouri State's inexperienced bullpen, which has struggled at times so far this year, gave the Redhawks a chance at a big comeback Sunday.

But the Redhawks could not make up an early four-run deficit and squandered an opportunity in the ninth inning as they lost 6-5 at Wright State.

Defending Horizon League regular-season and tournament champion WSU (6-7) captured the three-game series in Dayton, Ohio, winning 2-0 on Saturday after Southeast posted a 10-7 victory Friday.

The Redhawks (6-10) have lost six of their last seven games, but Southeast coach Mark Hogan came away encouraged after a well-played series that saw the Redhawks commit just one error.

"It was a really good ballgame. It's a tough game to lose, but I thought our kids laid it on the line after a bad start," Hogan said. "I saw a lot of progress. To play this well this weekend against a very good ballclub was gratifying."

Junior college transfer left-hander Zack Smith recorded only four outs and did not make it out of the second inning. The Raiders scored three runs in the first inning and added two more in the second to lead 5-1.

Juco transfer lefty Ryan Kendall relieved Smith and was effective for the second consecutive time out of the bullpen. Kendall allowed just one run and three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Dylan Lynn, another juco transfer, fired two shutout innings. He gave up one hit, struck out one and walked none.

Southeast, which fell behind 3-0 after one inning before WSU made it 5-1, chipped away and trailed just 6-5 entering the ninth.

All-American senior Trenton Moses led off with a single against All-American closer Michael Schum, who was in his second inning of work Sunday after saving Saturday's win with three scoreless innings.

Senior Kody Campbell singled, Moses stopping at second.

Redshirt freshman Andy Lennington then hit a smash to the right side that looked like it would get into the outfield and tie the game.

But second baseman Sam Picchiotti made a diving stop and threw Lennington out as Moses advanced to third and pinch-runner Nolan Fisher moved to second.

True freshman Ryan Barnes was intentionally walked to load the bases. Senior Taylor Heon then grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the game. Schum notched his second save of the series.

"The second baseman made a major league play," Hogan said. "Taylor Heon hit the ball really hard. It's a tough way to go out, but I liked his at-bat."

The Redhawks stranded 11 runners.

Southeast outhit WSU 11-10, led by sophomore Cole Bieser's 3-for-5 performance. Barnes and senior Kenton Parmley both added two hits.

Moses extended his streak of reaching base safely to 37 games dating back to last year.

Parmley extended his hitting streak to 23 games.

Smith (1-3) allowed six hits along with the five runs. He walked one and hit a batter.