April 22, 2007

Box Score

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - (Sunday, April 22, 2007) Southeast Missouri erased an eight-run, seventh-inning deficit and rallied for an improbable 16-14 victory in 12 innings Sunday at Austin Peay.

It appeared that the Redhawks (25-15, 10-5 OVC) would be swept in an OVC series for the first time since March 25-26 last season when they lost all three games at UT-Martin. After six innings, Southeast trailed Austin Peay (22-17, 9-6 OVC) by eight runs, 10-2.

However, Southeast scored 11 runs in the final three innings: six in the seventh, two in the eighth and three in the ninth before the game was sent into extra innings.

Trailing by one heading into the ninth inning and with two outs remaining to tie the game, seniors Robby Moore (Rombauer, Mo./Jefferson CC) and Omar Padilla (Point Reyes Station, Calif./Santa Rosa CC) hit back-to-back singles. After they each advanced on a wild pitch, freshman Jim Klocke (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney HS) tied the game with a groundball to short that allowed Moore to score from third.

With the game tied at 11, Govs reliever Jason Stoermer hit freshman Nick Harris (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson HS) and intentionally walked senior Asif Shah (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) to load the bases after Stoermer fell behind in the count 3-0. Sophomore Matt Wagner (Wahoo, Neb./Nebraska) put Southeast on top three pitches later with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield.

The game was far from over, though, as Austin Peay fought back to tie the game at 13 runs when pinch-hitter Trey Lucas delivered a two-run single down the third base line.

Southeast and Austin Peay swapped runs in the eleventh inning, including a pinch-hit home run by the Govs' Tyler Bullock of the frame. The Redhawks responded and scored the game-winning runs in the top of the twelfth inning.

Moore led off the inning with a base on balls and was able to advance to second on a wild pitch when Padilla struck out and third on Klocke's ground out to first base. Harris drove Moore across the plate with a bunt single up the first base line. Senior Daryl Graham (Fort Scott, Kan./Cowley County CC), who replaced Shah defensively in the ninth inning, singled in Harris for an insurance run to put SEMO on top by the final score 16-14.

Senior Phillip Riley (Memphis, Tenn./Jackson State CC) finished the game on the mound for the Redhawks after starting the ballgame I the lineup as the designated pitcher. Riley (5-3) recorded the win in three and two-third innings pitched and allowed just one run on two hits. The right-hander also struck out three batters.

Austin Peay employed 10 pitchers before the game finished. Daniel Tenholder was the losing pitcher and fell to 0-1 on the season.

Southeast led 2-1 until the Governors scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Austin Peay added single runs in the fifth and sixth to extend the lead to 10-2.

Starting pitcher Josh Syberg (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney HS) pitched three and two-thirds innings and was charged with seven runs (six earned) on eight hits. The left-hander struck out four batters, walked one and hit a batter.

The Redhawks began the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning with a six-run tally on the scoreboard. Sophomore Matt Wagner (Wahoo, Neb./Nebraska) touched off for a three-run towering home run to right center and Riley followed him with a solo home run over the scoreboard in left field. The back-to-back bombs were the first for Southeast since May 15, 2005, when Freddy Lopez and Brent Lawson hit consecutive homers against Morehead State.

Padilla set a school record with eight at bats Sunday. He finished the game 4-for-8 at the plate with a double and three runs scored.

Harris also recorded four hits and tied a single-game record. The freshman scored five times, becoming the fourth Southeast player to score five times in a contest. He was 4-for-7 at the dish with four RBIs, five runs scored and a stolen base.

Jake Lane and Rafael Hill each had four hits for the Governors.