Opening weeked for Southeast's baseball team shows talent

As Southeast Missouri State athletics takes on its busiest time of the year with seven different sports in competition at the same time, there is quite a bit of coverage to be done. Here is a quick recap of what you may have missed from last weekend from Southeast's baseball team. For more recaps, go to SoutheastArrow.com/Sports.

Southeast's baseball team traveled to Nacogdoches, Texas, for the team's opening weekend and finished with a record of 2-2, splitting with UT Arlington and Stephen F. Austin each.

During the first game of the season, the team took on UT Arlington and scored three runs in the fifth inning to push the team atop the Mavericks 4-3.

Senior right-handed pitcher Clay Chandler notched his first win of the season from atop the mound after working six and two-thirds innings. Chandler allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out three and walking two batters.

Senior right-handed pitcher Matthew Wade earned the same as he entered the game in the eighth inning with bases-loaded and one out. This counts for Wade's fifth career save as he pitched the final inning and two-thirds.

Southeast had three hitters recording two hits apiece including junior second baseman Trevor Ezell, senior outfielder Chris Osborne and junior infielder Kyle Bottger.

UT Arlington was on the board first as a two-run home run was blasted over the center field wall in the bottom of the fourth inning.

But it wasn't long before Southeast gained the lead as Ezell, junior infielder Tristen Gagan and senior outfielder Dan Holst loaded the bases for senior catcher Kylar Robertson to register an RBI on a fly ball to center field, scoring Ezell. Senior catcher Brian Lees then hit a two-run triple with two outs to give Southeast the lead.

During the second game of opening day, Southeast fell to Stephen F. Austin by a score of 3-2. Each team registered two errors concluding in unearned runs on the board on both sides.

Senior left-handed pitcher Robert Beltran suffered the loss after working five inning, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits.

Redshirt-freshman right-handed pitcher Chase Hagerty took the mound for the first time. Hagerty faced and retired nine hitters in three complete innings. Hagerty registered four strikeouts.

Southeast's designated hitter, Robertson registered two hits during the second game of the double-header.

Stephen F. Austin gained the lead by two runs in the third inning, touching home after a throwing error was made by senior infielder Chris Caffrey and an RBI single was hit by Stephen F. Austin's Nick Ramos.

Southeast came to tie the game within the next frame as the team had bases loaded with no outs with junior catcher Aiden McMahan at the plate for his first at bat as a Redhawk. McMahan hit into an RBI fielder's choice, tying the game at 2-2.

Stephen F. Austin's Zac Michener homered to center field to break the tie and be the last run scored on the night in the bottom on the fifth.

On the following day, Southeast took on UT Arlington again and after hanging onto a three-run lead through five and a half innings, UT Arlington put up five unanswered runs, defeating Southeast.

Senior right-handed pitcher Justin Murphy made his first career start on the mound for Southeast, pitching six complete innings and striking out five. Murphy only threw 86 pitches heading into the seventh inning, yet suffered a no decision after allowing tying runs to reach base in the seventh.

Senior right-hander Adam Pennington suffered the loss after giving up the go-ahead run in the seventh.

After committing two errors in each game Friday, Southeast's defense played a perfect game on Saturday.

The 2016 home run leader for the Redhawks, senior outfielder Chris Osborne, recorded his first bomb of the year in the top of the third inning to put Southeast up 2-0. Gagan recorded his first RBI of the year with a sacrifice fly ball to left field, extending the lead 3-0.

With a complex route of runs, UT Arlington took the lead in the bottom of the seventh and scored again in the eighth, making the score 5-3.

Southeast wouldn't answer in the top of the ninth, concluding the game in a loss.

On Sunday, Southeast had a chance to finish the weekend on a high note and took it by beating Stephen F. Austin, 2-1.

Senior left-handed pitcher Nate Green made his Redhawk debut and recorded his first win after working five complete inning, allowing one run on five hits. The mound saw familiar faces as junior right-handed pitcher Carlos Vega and Wade made second appearances for Southeast. Vega pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out three. Wade earned his second save of the weekend after throwing a perfect ninth inning, recording one strikeout.

Offensively, Southeast put up nine hits on Sunday, led by three from Holst. He recorded a pair of triples and scored twice on the day. Gagan had two hits, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.

In the third inning, Holst led off with a single to right field. Freshman infielder Connor Basler then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Holst into scoring position. A fly out advanced Holst to third base and Evans registered an RBI from a two-out base hit into left, scoring Holst and putting Southeast up, 1-0.

Stephen F. Austin answered immediately in the bottom of the third, tying the game.

Holst then began the fifth with a triple, then scored off of Basler's single up the middle. Southeast put up one more run and would hold the lead for the remainder of the game.

The team will compete again at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at Capaha Field against Western Illinois.