Redhawks drop third straight OVC series

Samford recorded a 4-2 victory over Southeast.

Southeast Missourian

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Southeast Missouri State's baseball team failed to capitalize on the momentum from Wednesday's upset of 19th-ranked Missouri.

The Redhawks suffered their third consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series loss as host Samford posted a 4-2 victory Sunday afternoon.

Southeast, which has dropped two of three during all three of its OVC series so far, fell to 12-18 overall and 3-6 in league play as the Redhawks dipped into eighth place among 10 squads. Samford is 9-20 and 4-5.

Offense was the Redhawks' primary culprit in the series, which included Saturday's doubleheader split.

Southeast, which also did not help itself defensively in the series with six errors, actually outhit Samford 8-7 Sunday.

Ernie Bracamonte went 2-for-4 as he extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Chris Gibson and freshman Jim Clayton also both went 2-for-4.

The Redhawks received a second consecutive solid performance from their starter, as Andy Johnson (0-2) allowed six hits and four runs in 6 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts and three walks. Jamie McAlister gave up one hit and no runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Samford starter Chandler Tidwell (2-4) allowed seven hits and two runs in seven innings, with seven strikeouts and one walk. Michael Neimkin earned a save with two shutout innings, allowing one hit.

Southeast grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Gibson's RBI single, but Samford went ahead for good with a three-run third. The Bulldogs got a two-out, two-run double from Bear Burnett, and Parker Gargis followed with an RBI single.

Things got worse for the Redhawks in the fourth as coach Mark Hogan was ejected for arguing with the umpires after they reversed a call that originally had right fielder Brent Lawson making a sliding catch, but it was later ruled that he trapped the ball.

The Redhawks made it 3-2 in the sixth on an RBI single by Freddy Lopez, but they failed to take further advantage after having runners on first and third with one out.

Samford tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Southeast threatened in the ninth as Clayton led off with a double, but Neimkin struck out the next three hitters to close out the victory.

Southeast has a rematch with Missouri Wednesday night in Columbia, then resumes OVC play this weekend with a series at Austin Peay.