Feb. 24, 2008

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By Tyler Koonce, Baseball Contact

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Paced by an offensive attack with five home runs, Southeast Missouri State crushed Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 15-3, to gain the victory in the rubber match of a three-game series at Taylor Memorial Field. The Redhawks (2-1, 0-0) scored seven runs in the top of the second inning, highlighted by a two-run, opposite field blast off the bat of Kieran Bradford (Brisbane, Australia/Three Rivers CC). Todd Strahlendorf (Rohnert Park, Calif./Santa Rosa JC) earned the victory after pitching four innings, where he alllowed only one earned run and struck out seven Golden Lions (1-2, 0-0).

Todd Strahlendorf releases a pitch during his first career victory Sunday. He pitched four innings, allowing only one earned run while striking out seven. (Marissa Beranek)

Following a leadoff infield single by Matt Wagner (Wahoo, Neb./Nebraska), Bradford launched UAPB starting pitcher Joe Cook's pitch over the right-center field fence to open up the scoring in the second. Tyrell Cummings (Muskogee, Okla./Seminole State JC) was credited with an RBI when he was hit by a pitch, forcing in Tony Spencer (Hillsboro, Mo./Mineral Area CC) and Justin Wheeler delivered a two-run single down the right field line as part of the seven-run outburst. It marked the second consecutive day that Southeast plated seven runs in a single inning.

Pine Bluff scored its only run off of Strahlendorf in the bottom of the third when Jerome McCollum hit a home run over the right field fence. The junior right-hander kept UAPB batters off-balance during all four innings as he was able to locate all three of his pitches effectively.

In the top of the third, Matt Wulfers (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Missouri) reached on a walk, advanced to second when Zachary Blemker (Vincennes, Ind./Vincennes CC) was hit by a pitch and then moved to third on a deep flyout to right field by Andrew Wiese (Waterloo, Ill./Waterloo). With runners on the corners, Blemker and Wulfers perfectly executed a double steal with the throw going through to second as Blemker slid in safely while Wulfers swiped home. It was the first time a Redhawks baserunner stole home since Philip Riley achieved the feat on April 9, 2006, at Jacksonville State.

Wagner led off the top of the fifth with a towering shot over the right-center field wall. Wiese blasted his first career homer, a two-run shot to left field that cleared the scoreboard, three batters later. Cummings added his first career round-tripper with a solo shot to left field in the top of the sixth.

UAPB scored their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth when Barry McDonley singled in Rashaad Billingsley and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Marcus Rodgers.

Sean Zollner finished off the home run outburst with his first career long ball, a three-run bomb to left, in the ninth. Zollner finished the series with four runs driven in, also a career first.

Josh Manning (De Soto, Mo./Three Rivers CC) relieved Strahlendorf by going two innings, allowing one earned run to go along with two strikeouts in his NCAA debut. Andy Stephens (Scott City, Mo./Meramec CC) and Ryan Poole (Bradford, Ark./Three Rivers CC) follwed with scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth. Seniors Lance Rhodes (Sikeston, Mo./Saint Louis) and Sam Rosener (Festus, Mo./Air Force) combined for a scoreless ninth to seal the blowout.

Cummings, Wheeler, Wagner and Wiese each registered two hits and two RBIs. Cummings leads the team with six runs driven over the first three games. Freshman Trenton Moses (Advance, Mo./Advance) notched his first career hit with a single in the ninth.

On Tuesday, they will face the Arkansas Razorbacks with the first pitching coming at 3:05 p.m. from Baum Stadium at George Cole Field in Fayetteville.