Redhawks Drop Heart-Breaker to Regular Season Champion Gamecocks :: Southeast rallied back from a four-run deficit

May 22, 2008

PADUCAH, Ky. - An emotional comeback ended in a tough loss to the Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions, Jacksonville State, on Thursday night at the 2008 OVC Baseball Championship at Brooks Stadium in Paducah, Ky.

Trailing by four runs after the fourth inning, No. 6 Southeast (24-25) rallied with two runs in the fifth and two runs in the sixth to tie the game. After a stellar pitching performance from right-handed reliever Josh Manning, the Redhawks took a two-run lead in the ninth inning, but the regular season champs and conference-leading offense plated three in the bottom of the ninth on Brian Piazza'a walk-off double.

No. 1 Jacksonville State (37-19) sent All-OVC First Team starter Ben Tootle to the mound to start the game, one of the Gamecocks' eight All-OVC first or second team selections.

Regardless, the Redhawks had their opportunities to score against the regular season champions' staff ace. Southeast stranded three runners in scoring position, and four total, in the first three innings against Tootle.

The Gamecocks, leading 1-0 after a first-inning run, added a set of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning after Southeast starter Ivan Nails struck out Whittemore to lead off the frame. Brian Piazza singled, Kyle McCreary was issued a base on balls, and they both scored on Daniel Adamson's double to the wall in left-center. A two-out RBI single drove the third run of the inning across the plate and signaled the end of the day for Nails.

Nails performed solidly through the first three innings, allowing just the single run in the first. After allowing three runs in the fourth, Nails exited after three and two-thirds innings pitched. The senior right-hander gave up four runs on six hits, walked one and struck out two.

Southeast answered in the next half inning, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. OVC All-Freshman Team selection Trenton Moses reached base to lead the inning on a grounder back to the pitcher, but Tootle made an errant throw that allowed Moses to reach second base. Spencer moved him over with a sacrifice bunt, and after a pair of outs Tootle issued two walks to load the bases.

All-OVC First Team first baseman Matt Wagner delivered with a two-RBI single through the right side of the infield, cutting the Gamecocks' lead in half. The Redhawks had a chance to score additional runs in the inning when Bert Smith booted a ground ball up the middle from Cummings, but Jim Klocke slipped when rounding third base and was thrown out to end the inning and the Southeast rally.

All-OVC First Team first baseman drove in three RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth run. (Photo Courtesy of Patrick Clark)

However, the Redhawks offense picked up right where they left off an inning later. After Wheeler fell behind no balls and two strikes, he coaxed a walk from Tootle. After the Jacksonville State starter threw two balls to Matt Wulfers, head coach Jim Case called on All-OVC second team pitcher Brian Booth. Wulfers singled up the middle, and with runners on first and second Moses laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt that resulted in a force out at third base.

Tony Spencer stepped to the plate against the submarine right-hander and slapped a double that rolled to the wall in left center, scoring both runners to tie the game at four.

Meanwhile, Manning cruised through a Jacksonville State line-up that leads the OVC in offense and includes five All-OVC first or second team selections. After relieving Nails with two outs in the fourth, the right-hander from De Soto, Mo., worked three and two-thirds innings before giving up his first hit in the bottom of the eighth. Over that span, Manning allowed just one runner to reach base prior to the eighth.

The Redhawks faced All-OVC First Team reliever Alex Jones in the ninth, but they were able to score two runs against the Gamecocks closer. Zac Blemker singled with one out, and after Klocke drew a walk, Wagner hit an RBI single to put the Redhawks in the lead. Klocke later gave the squad a 6-4 lead on a passed ball.

Wagner led the Redhawks offense with three RBIs; he was 2-for-5 at the plate.

The Gamecocks though were resilient against reliever Todd Strahlendorf, and catcher Spencer Brandes led off with a double. Two batters later, All-OVC First Team second baseman hit an RBI single. Two batters later, Whittemore doubled to represent the game-winning run, and first baseman Piazza delivered the game-winning double.

Southeast will continue play in the loser's bracket on Friday at 2:30 p.m.; they will face the winner of the 11 a.m. Tennessee Tech versus Samford match-up. Jacksonville State, on the other hand, will play Eastern Illinois who became the first No. 4 seed to advance to the winner's bracket final.