Lucchesi throws seven perfect innings as Southeast Missouri State dominates Arkansas-Pine Bluff

After coming up empty in its first, season-opening weekend series, the Southeast Missouri State baseball team began a three-game series at Arkansas-Pine Bluff the right way with an 10-0 victory on Friday in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

Senior ace Joey Lucchesi put in a dominant effort as he threw seven perfect innings and struck out 11 for the win, moving him to 1-1 on the season.

"Joey was very sharp with his fastball location the first time through the lineup and then started mixing really well and settled in to go seven solid innings," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said in a press release. "I would have really liked to see him go after a perfect game but it is just too early in the season to push his innings and pitch count."

Southeast Missouri State's Garrett Gandolfo strokes a two-RBI double in the seventh inning at Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday. The Redhawks won 10-0. (Wayne McPherson~Special to the Southeast Missourian)

Jared Siddle and Alex Waldhoff each threw one inning for the Redhawks to finish off the shutout.

The SEMO offense was paced by designated hitter Kylar Robertson, who was 4-for-5 with two runs, two RBI, and two doubles, capping off a week that started with five RBIs against Alcorn State.

Southeast (2-3) jumped out to 2-0 lead in the second inning after leadoff hitter Dan Holst was hit by a pitch, stole second and then scored on a Robertson double down the left field line.

Robertson then scored on a two-out error.

The Golden Lions (0-5) continued to come up empty against Lucchesi, and the Redhawks added to their advantage in the top of the seventh inning, when Scott Mitchell opened with a double to left field. Trevor Ezell bunted him over, Branden Boggetto walked and Garrett Gandolfo plated both runners with a two-bagger, making things 4-0.

The gates were broken down in the following inning, as Southeast Missouri State sent 12 batters to the plate in the eighth inning, scoring six runs.

"Offensively, we got off to a slow start and missed some key opportunities early," Bieser said, "but then we came up with some big hits in the eighth to put us up by 10."

Gandolfo picked up a one-out, RBI single to open the scoring and Ryan Rippee came up with a bases-loaded, two-out triple to right-center to push the score to 8-0.

A Holst RBI base hit and a Robertson ribbie — in his second at-bat of the inning — sealed the 10-0 scoreline.

Anthony Bowmaker (0-1) took the loss for Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Redhawks are back on the diamond against the Golden Lions today at 1 p.m. Clay Chandler, fresh off an Ohio Valley Conference Co-Pitcher of the Week award, is slated to get the start on the mound for Southeast.