May 6, 2007

Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. - Southeast Missouri State baseball split a doubleheader Sunday at Turkey Hughes Field on the campus of Eastern Kentucky. The teams played two seven inning games Sunday after Saturday's contest was rained out before it could become a complete game.

In game one, senior Asif Shah (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) pitched a two-hit shutout to get the win over all-american Christian Friedrich. The game's lone run came after Shah hit a bloop double down the left field line in to lead off the top of the first inning. Redshirt sophomore Matt Wagner (Wahoo, Neb./Nebraska) followed with a groundout to the right side of the infield, advancing Shah to third base. With one out, Eastern Kentucky head coach Elvin Dominguez elected not to pull the infield in. Another redshirt sophomore, Matt Wulfers (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Missouri) took advantage, recording an RBI groundout to second base to give Southeast a 1-0 lead. Shah would handle the rest on the mound, while the Redhawks would not record another hit off the all-american the rest of the way.

Matt Wulfers was credited with the game-winning RBI against all-american pitcher Christian Friedrich. (Sean Magee)

Shah pitched all seven innings, allowing only the two hits while striking out three and walking only one batter. He got a lot of help defensively from second basemen Omar Padilla (Point Reyes Station, Calif./Santa Rosa CC) and right fielder Daryl Graham (Fort Scott, Kan./Cowley County CC). Padilla made three fine plays ranging to his right and left to field the balls in the hole and successfully threw out the runners at first. Graham made a diving catch down the right field line to take away a base hit early on.

Friedrich pitched all seven innings as well, yielding only the double to Shah. He struck out eight Southeast hitters without issuing a walk. He displayed an overpowering fastball as well as a knee-buckling curveball. Both pitchers were dominant with Shah's offensive boost being the difference in the final.

Game two was also a pitcher's dual with EKU's Chris Grider getting the best of Southeast freshman Josh Syberg (St. Louis, Mo./St. John Vianney). Like Shah in game one, Grider surrendered only two hits in his five innings of work. He allowed one earned run in the top of the second inning but went on to pitch two more scoreless innings.

The Redhawks only run in the top of the third came after Graham was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Grider retired the next two Southeast hitters before Graham successfully stole second. Padilla came through with a single into left field that plated Graham from second base.

Syberg was just as impressive as Grider through his four and two-thirds innings on the rubber. He held the Colonels scoreless the whole way before surrendering a two-out walk to Dylan McMaine in the bottom of the 5th inning. Clint Seymour followed with a double down the right field line and McMaine was held at third base. Syberg then hit Breck Norment, loading the bases. Senior Shawn Flora came up big on senior day with a two-run single up the middle that plated two runs, put EKU in the lead and ended Syberg's day. Senior Phillip Riley (Memphis, Tenn./Jackson State CC) came in to pitch one and one-third scoreless innings. Grider was pulled after walking Robby Moore (Rombauer, Mo./Jefferson CC) to start the top of the fifth inning. McKenzie Willoughby came in and retired all six batters he faced to finish the game.

With the split, Southeast improves to 28-19 overall and 13-7 in OVC play. Eastern Kentucky improved to 20-23-1 and 9-9 with the game two victory.

The Redhawks will be off this week as the players will take final exams. They return to action in the final home series next weekend when they host Morehead State. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. from Capaha Field. On Sunday, the seniors will be honored in their final home game in a ceremony prior to the 1 p.m. first pitch.