Renfrow Tosses Complete Game Gem in First Round Victory :: No. 6 Southeast defeated third-seeded Austin Peay 5-2

May 21, 2008

PADUCAH, Ky. - In two previous starts against Austin Peay, Dustin Renfrow had never beaten the Governors. Last season he dueled against eventual 12th round draft pick Shawn Kelley in a 4-2 loss at Austin Peay, and earlier this year Tyler Farrar homered in the eighth inning at Capaha Field to put Austin Peay up 6-5.

In the first round of the Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Renfrow finally got the best of the No. 3 Govs (27-28) in a complete game gem, leading the Redhawks to a 5-2 victory. It was the senior's fifth complete game of the season as he propelled No. 6 Southeast (24-24) into the winner's bracket and a 6:30 p.m. contest against regular season OVC champs and top-seeded Jacksonville State tomorrow.

After allowing a run to score in the first inning, Renfrow allowed just two batters to reach base prior to the sixth inning when the Govs managed to tack on just one run after a leadoff double by third baseman Greg Bachman, who led the Govs as the plate with a three-hit performance.

The right-hander gave up just two runs on seven hits as he improved to 6-5 on the year and picked up his second career OVC Baseball Championship victory. He won the decision in the opening round last year against Murray State.

Meanwhile, the Redhawks line-up, which entered the tournament ranked second in the league in scoring offense, provided plenty of support for the right-handed starter.

Southeast jumped on the scoreboard with one run in the top of the first inning after Jim Klocke and Matt Wagner reached base with two outs. The third consecutive All-OVC First Team selection at the plate, junior Tyrell Cummings hit a sky-high popup, but Austin Peay first baseman Matt Kole lost the ball in the sun, and Klocke was able to score from second as the ball dropped in the infield just 20 feet from home plate.

Austin Peay tied the game in the bottom of the inning, and the game remained tied as Renfrow dueled against Govs starter Stephen Huff, their left-handed staff ace. Neither team scored against until the sixth inning, when the Redhawks made a splash with three runs in the top of the inning.

Designated hitter Justin Wheeler, who has the second highest batting average on the Southeast roster against southpaws, led off with a double that rolled to the wall in left center. Klocke followed with his first of three walks on the night, and Wagner drove in a run with an RBI single to shallow center. After back-to-back strikeouts, Klocke just beat the throw from right field on a close play at the plate following a Zac Blemker single.

All-OVC First Team catcher Jim Klocke singled in the first and reached base in all five plate appearances Wednesday night. (Photo Courtesy of Patrick Clark)

The Redhawks added another run when Blemker took of for second on Huff's delivery to the plate, drawing a throw by Austin Peay catcher Trey Lucas. Wagner broke for home plate, and after getting caught in a run down, Lucas made an errant throw to third base that allowed Wagner to score and Blemker to advance to third. Blemker made some more noise on the base paths after Blake Slattery walked, but he was thrown out attempting to steal home on a toss to first by Huff.

Four runs would be enough for Renfrow, who gave up a run in the bottom of the sixth but did not allow the Govs to score in any of the final three innings. He worked out of a jam in the eighth inning, not allowing Austin Peay to get on the scoreboard after back-to-back one-out singles.

Huff (5-6) exited after the sixth inning, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts, and the Governors used five pitchers over the final three innings.

Southeast managed one more run for insurance in the top of the ninth when Nick Harris hit a double down the left field line past a diving third baseman that allowed Matt Wulfers to score from second. Wulfers, who pinch-hit for starting right fielder Blake Slattery, singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Renfrow returned for the bottom of the ninth inning and set the Govs down in order, striking out designated hitter Zach Upton to close out the game. The West Plains, Mo., native threw 119 pitches in the complete game effort, 76 of which were strikes as he did not issue a walk and struck out six in the victory.

Fellow senior right-hander Ivan Nails will get the nod tomorrow evening as the Redhawks take on OVC Co-Player of the Year Clay Whittemore and No. 1 Jacksonville State. Right-handed pitcher Ben Tootle will start on the mound for the regular season champion Gamecocks. First pitch from Brooks Stadium in Paducah is slated for 6:30 p.m.

The game can be heard live on ESPN 1220 AM or online at www.espn1220.com. The game will also be available live or on-demand with OVCSports.TV. Fans can purchase the tournament package for $19.95 and have access to every game. Interested fans should click HERE to access the sign-up page. (Note: If you already subscribe to the annual, monthly or baseball package, you do not have to subscribe to the tournament package in order to see the event; it is already covered in your subscription.)