Bethel Baseball suffers tough loss at NCAA D-IAA University of Southeast Missouri. 

Matt Swinea, Sports Information Director

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Bethel Wildcats suffered a wild and tough 4-2 loss to the RedHawks of Southeast Missouri State University.  Bethel took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning before a questionable call at first base allowed the Redhawks to plate three runs in the bottom half of the inning.  The call left enough doubt that Head Coach Glenn Hayes was ejected after arguing the call. 

Bethel sent 6’7” freshman lefty Jonathon Keck (Lexington, Tenn.) to the hill to start the game.  The Redhawks scored their first run in the first inning after the third baseman hit a leadoff triple.  The Redhawks hit a sacrifice fly to center to put Southeast on top 1-0.  Keck showed his prowess at the plate when he hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning.  With two outs, Seth Stanfill (Jr./Lexington, Tenn.), who reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second base and scored on Scott Dean's (Fr./Jackson, Tenn.) ensuing single up the middle. The run gave Bethel a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning, but that would be the last that Bethel would get.

Southeast loaded the bases in the fourth inning on a walk, hit batter, and a walk before making an out.  After a pop out, the next Redhawk batter bounced the ball to the Wildcat third baseman Alex Whitmore (Sr./Nashville, Tenn.) playing in on the grass. Whitmore forced the runner at the plate, but the runner was called safe at first avoiding an inning-ending double play.

That’s when Coach Hayes got tossed for making his case that the runner at first was out.  The missed call prolonged the inning allowing the next Redhawk batter, with a full count, two outs and the bases loaded, to hit a line drive double down the left field line and drive three runs across the plate.

Before the first pitch could ever be thrown to the next batter, the skies opened up, and the rain poured down. The contest was delayed for one hour and eight minutes due to the rain.

Neither team scored the rest of the game and Bethel left with a bitter 2-4 loss.

Keck pitched 3.1 innings giving up four hits and four runs.  Landon Wood (Jr./Lexington, Tenn.) came in relief throwing a solid 2.2 innings giving up only one hit.  Jon Patterson (Fr./Lexington, Tenn.) and Rhett Hughes (Jr./Harrisburg, Ill.) pitched the last two innings giving up four hits and no runs.

Keck was 1 for 4 with a homer and a RBI.  Dean was 1 for 4 with a walk and a RBI.  Tanner Hall (Jr./Wingo, Ky.) was 1 for 3 with a walk.  Whitmore was 1 for 4 with a walk.  Tyler Newman (Jr./Henderson, Tenn.) was 1 for 3 with a walk.  Drew Hayes (Fr./McKenzie, Tenn.) was 1 for 4 and had a walk.

Bethel finds themselves in a four game skid and falls to 13-8-1 (2-4).  They will resume their season this coming weekend at Mid-Continent University (Mayfield, Ky.) in a three game conference match-up.  Friday’s game begins at 2:00pm and the double header on Saturday begins at 12:00pm.