Two and out- Redhawks eliminated

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State was hopeful a hot stretch to end the regular season would lead to a strong Ohio Valley Conference Tournament showing.

But that didn't even come close to happening for the Redhawks, who were bounced from the six-team, double-elimination event in two games.

A season that began with high hopes but featured mostly disappointment ended Thursday as third-seeded Morehead State beat the fifth-seeded Redhawks 6-1.

One day after twice coming within two outs of a first-round victory over Murray State -- Southeast wound up losing 4-3 in 11 innings -- the Redhawks (24-32) were beaten rather soundly by the Eagles (29-27).

"I guess the tournament kind of sums up our season," said Ernie Bracamonte, one of 10 Southeast seniors who ended their college careers Thursday. "We had a tough day yesterday and we just couldn't get it going today."

The Redhawks had only two fewer hits than MSU -- finishing with eight -- but they squandered numerous opportunities and stranded 12 runners. Southeast twice had a runner on third base with less than two outs but failed to get him home.

"We had trouble getting it going," Southeast senior Eric Horstman said. "We had eight hits, but we couldn't string anything together."

Southeast, the first team eliminated from the tournament despite entering the event having won eight of its final nine OVC games, had a golden opportunity to grab an early lead after putting runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the third inning.

But senior Freddy Lopez struck out, then sophomore Brent Lawson was robbed of a likely two-run double on a diving catch by right fielder Bo Stohler.

"We had opportunities," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "One of the big early plays was the diving play by the right fielder. That was a great catch. It seems like we've had that kind of play go against us several times this year."

The Eagles broke a scoreless tie with a fourth-inning run against junior left-hander Derek Herbig, who had retired the first nine batters he faced. Two walks preceded a one-out single by Donald Cheney that made it 1-0.

MSU never lost the lead. The Eagles scored twice in the sixth -- knocking out Herbig in the process -- on two hits and an error, which made one of the runs unearned. It was the Redhawks' lone error in the tournament.

Southeast scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth. Lawson doubled leading off -- his team-high 16th two-bagger of the season -- and came home on Bracamonte's double. Bracamonte moved to third on a wild pitch with nobody out, but the Redhawks failed to bring him home.

"We just did not hit the ball well enough, and they had some timely hits," Bracamonte said.

The Eagles made it 5-1 with a two-run seventh, featuring an RBI double by Lance Seasor, the OVC Player of the Year who spends his summers in Cape Girardeau as a member of the Capahas.

Seasor then punctuated MSU's victory that kept the Eagles alive in the tournament with a ninth-inning home run, his 15th of the season.

Bracamonte, Lopez and freshman James Clayton each had two hits for Southeast.

Horstman had a single, as he finished the season with a 26-game hitting streak. He also ended the year having reached base safely in 48 consecutive games, believed to be the longest current streak in the nation.

Herbig (5-3) took the loss, allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked four.

Senior right-hander Ryan Forsyth allowed four hits and two runs in two-thirds of an inning. Sophomore left-hander Josh Parham gave up three hits and one run in 2 2/3 innings.

"Herbig gave us a good start, but you have to score in this tournament," Hogan said. "We didn't do enough offensively either game."

Seasor and Zac Carr each had two of MSU's 10 hits. Right-hander Adrian Duran (9-5), one of the OVC's top pitchers all season, was the winner, allowing six hits and one run in five innings. Greg Wood and Lance Johnston combined for four innings of two-hit, shutout relief.

"We played a great game yesterday and had a really tough loss," Hogan said. "It was a tough tournament for us."

And a tough season, as the Redhawks posted just their second losing record in 11 years under Hogan. Southeast tied for its fewest victories ever under Hogan, matching the 1997 squad that went 24-33-1.

"We had high hopes with so many seniors returning," Horstman said. "We were hoping to do a lot better."

Said Bracamonte: "The season was very disappointing, because we had a lot of high hopes."

Added Hogan: "No doubt, it was disappointing. The way we finished last year [reaching the OVC Tournament championship game] and what we went into the season with. There were a lot of expectations, and we fell short."