March 13, 2007

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Tuesday, March 13, 2007) Freshman Jim Klocke wasn't about to ousted by Mother Nature on Tuesday afternoon. With the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning, the catcher from St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis, Mo., hit a double that cleared the bases and gave Southeast the 4-2 advantage over Bethel (Tenn.) College that held up for the rest of the game.

Southeast (8-6) loaded the bases in the fourth inning before making an out. Daryl Graham drew a walk to start the inning, and Asif Shah reached base after being hit on the helmet by a pitch. Robby Moore followed with another walk. After the first out was recorded on a pop out, Omar Padilla bounced the ball to the Wildcat third baseman playing in on the grass. Graham was forced out at the plate, but Padilla hustled down the first base line to just beat the throw to first and avoid an inning-ending double play.

Klocke, with a full count, two outs and the bases loaded, delivered a line drive down the left field line and drove 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, but Klocke had already recaptured the lead for Southeast.

Senior Phillip Riley, pitching in relief of starter James Leigh, made sure that they kept it. He shut out the Wildcats (13-8-1) after the rain delay, allowing just two hits.

Senior Phillip Riley improved his record to 2-1, pitching six innings of relief against Bethel College.

Riley (2-1) entered the game in the top of the fourth after Jonathon Keck hit a solo home run off of Leigh to lead off the frame. With two outs, Seth Stanfill, who reached base on a fielder's choice, stole second base and scored on Scott Dean's ensuing single up the middle. The run gave Bethel a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning, but the last that Riley would allow.

Riley, a right-handed pitcher from Memphis, Tenn., pitched six innings in relief and allowed just one run on three hits. He also struck out 10 batters, including five straight at one points, and he issued just three walks. Beginning with the second out in the fifth inning, Riley retired 10 consecutive Bethel batters.

Freshman Nick Harris led off the game with his second triple of the season.

The Redhawks scored their first run in the first inning after third baseman Nick Harris hit a leadoff triple. Harris, a freshman, hit a fly ball to deep center that fell at the base of the wall as Stanfill had trouble getting a good read on the ball. Padilla immediately came through with a sacrifice fly to center to put Southeast on top 1-0.

Harris ended the game 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored.

Klocke, who was batting third in the lineup for the first time of his collegiate career, was 2-for-3 with the three runs batted in. All three RBIs crossed the plate on his difference-making double in the fourth inning. He also reached base after being hit by a pitch and by way of a walk in his first two trips to the plate.

Southeast will complete an eight-game home stand this weekend with a three-game series against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Redhawks host the Golden Lions at 6 p.m. on Friday, and the two squads will square off for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.