April 5, 2008

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

By Tyler Koonce, Baseball Contact

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After falling 5-3 to Murray State in the first game Saturday, Southeast Missouri State bounced back to take game two, 3-2, in walk-off fashion. Nick Harris was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning.

Southeast scored a single run in each of the final three innings to come back and win the second contest. Kieran Bradford started the scoring with a solo home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the fifth inning. Matt Wagner hit an RBI single to score Nick Harris the following inning before Harris was drilled to bring in pinch runner Sean Zollner to score the winning run.

Dustin Renfrow (3-1) earned the complete game victory, going all seven innings, allowing just two earned runs while scattering five hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Brad Rowland (0-1) took the loss for Murray as he was unable to keep Southeast off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh. He pitched two-thirds of an inning, with two walks, two hit batters and one strikeout.

In game one, Murray start Chris Cracraft (3-1) kept Southeast hitters off-balance the entire game. He pitched the full nine innings, giving up three earned runs and six hits to go along with three strikeouts.

Brooks Thornton delivered a punishing blow in the top of the first inning with a bases clearing double down the left field line. Wes Cunningham and Tyler Owen both registered multi-hit games for the Thoroughbreds.

The Redhawks scored their runs on an RBI single and groundout by Jim Klocke and an RBI double by Matt Wagner. Wagner safely hit in both games to extend his hitting streak to 14 games. Klocke finished 2-3 in game one.

Sophomore left-hander Josh Syberg (0-3) took the loss in the first game after pitching five and two-thirds, giving up eight hits and three earned runs. He struck out four and did not walk an opposing batter.

Both teams settle the series with a Sunday rubber match beginning at 1 p.m. James Leigh will start for Southeast against Mike Perconte of Murray.