May 13, 2007

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Sunday, May 13, 2007) Southeast Missouri State fell just shy of a weekend sweep of Morehead State as they lost Sunday, 9-8. The Redhawks took a five run lead into the seventh inning, but the Eagles soared back with a six-run inning to put them on top for good.

The Redhawks (30-20, 15-8 OVC) fell back into third place as Jacksonville State won its game Sunday. With three conference games to play, SEMO trails Jacksonville State by one-half game, and it is behind first-place Austin Peay by one and one-half games.

Southeast jumped on top with a run in the first inning. After freshman Nick Harris (Alabaster, Ala./Thompson HS) singled to lead off the game, freshman Jim Klocke (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney HS) perfectly executed a hit and run. His single through the vacated left side of the infield allowed Harris to advance to third base. Sophomore Matt Wagner (Wahoo, Neb./Nebraska) drove in Harris with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Morehead State (16-33, 9-15 OVC) tied the game at two runs apiece in the top of the fourth when second baseman Chris McCaslin hit a two-run home run off of Southeast starter Josh Syberg (St. Louis, Mo./Vianney HS).

Syberg went on to allow a double and a single to the next two batters before leaving the game after three and one-third innings pitched. The southpaw was charged with three runs on seven hits and one walk; he did not strike out a batter for the first time this season.

Junior relief pitcher Ivan Nails (Horn Lake, Miss./Southwest Tenn. CC) entered the game with runners on the corners and one out. After a walk that loaded the bases, Drew Lee gave the Eagles a 3-2 lead with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Redhawks retook the lead with a five-run fifth inning in which they sent 10 batters to the plate. Senior Asif Shah (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) had a two-RBI single off of a leaping first baseman's glove with none out and the bases loaded. Seniors Daryl Graham (Fort Scott, Kan./Cowley County CC), Dustin Pritchett (Kennett, Mo./Forest Park CC) and Robby Moore (Rombauer, Mo./Jefferson CC) each drove in runs.

Graham had another RBI in the sixth inning, a single through the middle that allowed Wagner to score from second.

Wagner finished the game 3-for-4, his third straight multi-hit game, and he scored twice, drove in one RBI and had a sacrifice fly. He finished 8-for-11 in the three-game weekend series.

The Eagles began rallying back in the top of the seventh. After Nails issued a lead-off walk, he gave up three consecutive singles to score a run and load the bases. Senior Josh Parham (Jackson, Mo./Fort Scott CC) relieved Nails with no outs and the bases loaded and gave up a two-run single to the first batter he faced.

The Eagles went on to three more runs before the end of the inning, two of which came on a two-out single to left field that got past sophomore outfielder Matt Wulfers (Cape Girardeau, Mo./Missouri). The error allowed two runs to score, which gave Morehead State a 9-8 advantage.

Senior relief pitcher Phillip Riley (Memphis, Tenn./Jackson State CC) kept Southeast in the game after entering with two outs in the eighth inning. He was the only Southeast pitcher who did not give up a run, allowing just one runner to reach in one and one-third innings.

However, the Redhawks failed to muster much offense against closing pitcher Tyler Lee, who recorded his first save of the season. Lee did not give up a hit in three innings of relief; he issued one walk and struck out one.

Starter Matt Clark got the win for Morehead State. He improved to 4-3 as he pitched six innings, allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits. Clark also issued three walks and struck out one batter.

Trent Hanna led the Eagles with a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Meanwhile, McCaslin was 2-for-5 with four RBIs.

Southeast returns to action with a road game at Saint Louis Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The will conclude the regular season Friday and Saturday with a three-game set at Tennessee Tech.