Feb. 22, 2009

Box Score

By Tyler Koonce, Sports Information Assistant

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the first time in Southeast history, the baseball team won a series against a ranked team from a major conference. Southeast Missouri State defeated No. 16 Alabama for the second straight day at Sewell-Thomas Stadium Sunday. The Redhawks (2-1) beat the Crimson Tide (1-2) 8-4 behind 11 hits from the Southeast offense.

Jim Klocke had a 2-run triple, 2-run double and also pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game. Tyrell Cummings added a 2-run home run in the victory. Brad LaBruyere threw four and one-thirds innings of middle relief, allowing only two hits and one earned run while the Redhawks completed the comeback.

Alabama got out to an early 3-0 lead with one run in the second inning and two in the third. Kent Matthes opened up the scoring with a solo home run to left-center field. Taylor Dugas hit an RBI triple into the right field corner to score Alex Kubal in the third. Dugas then scored on a balk to account for the third run.

Crimson Tide freshman starter Adam Morgan was solid for his first five innings before running into trouble in the top of the sixth. Tony Spencer and Nick Harris hit back-to-back 1-out singles. Klocke then delivered his first blow with a 2-run double to right field. Cummings followed with a single to left field, advancing Klocke to third before Matt Wagner tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Matthes hit his second solo homer of the afternoon in the bottom of the frame off of LaBruyere. That would be the only run allowed by the sophomore right-hander, who was the second Southeast reliever to earn a victory in as many days.

Redhawks hitters carried their momentum over into the seventh inning, scoring four runs to take the lead for good. Kenton Parmley led off with his first career hit, a single through the left side. Spencer then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Parmley to second. Harris followed with a walk, putting runners at first and second base. Klocke followed by slugging his second career triple all the way to the wall in right-center, accounting for his third and fourth RBIs of the day. After a pitching change, Cummings blasted a monster home run to left field, increasing the lead to 7-4.

Southeast added an insurance run in the eighth when Tony Spencer hit a run-scoring single to right, scoring Justin Wheeler who led off with a walk.

LaBruyere allowed just two hits and one earned run during his long relief effort. He struck out four and issued two walks. Klocke added to his impressive day with two scoreless innings on the mound during his NCAA pitching debut, striking out four with a dominating fastball.

The Redhawks open their home scheduled Tuesday against Lyon College, an NAIA opponent. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Capaha Field.