CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State scored three times in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a tie and went on to defeat South Dakota State, 12-8, in nonconference baseball action Friday afternoon at Capaha Stadium.
With the win, the Redhawks improved to 3-8 overall. SDSU remained winless at 0-8.
SEMO battled back from two other de cits before putting together the decisive rally in the seventh inning. Tied at 8, each of the Redhawks’ rst two runs of the seventh inning scored on wild pitches, while Devon Wilson capped the frame with a home run to left center.
The Redhawks added a run in the eighth that was aided by a passed ball and another wild pitch for the final margin.
SDSU grabbed a 2-0 first-inning lead in which it knocked out SEMO starter Joey Burris after retiring only two batters. Tony Kjolsing singled with one out and later scored on a groundout off the bat of Newt Johnson. Skyler Wenninger scored the second run of the inning on Josh Falk’s double to left field.
SEMO countered with a three-run home run by Wade Stauss in the second inning to take its first lead of the game.
The Jackrabbits tied the game at 3-all on a sacrifice y by Phil Velez in the third inning, then built a 7-4 lead in the top of the fifth. Falk opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on a double down the left-field line by Josh Kutzke. After a walk to Philip Jacobson loaded the bases and SEMO made another pitching change, SDSU head coach Rob Bishop went to his bench for Anthony Schneider.
The senior from Altoona, Iowa, greeted Redhawk reliever Matt Cook with a grand slam to left field. It was Schneider’s second home run of the season his first collegiate grand slam.
However, Jackrabbit starter Brady Moxham ran into trouble in the home half of the fifth as he issued walks to four of the five hitters he faced in the inning before exiting. After Austin Suhr came on in relief, the Redhawks pulled to within a run at 7-6 before Stauss tallied his fourth and fifth runs batted in of the game with a two-run single to right center that gave SEMO a momentary 8-7 lead.
SDSU tied the game one last time in the top of the sixth as Newt Johnson scored on a wild pitch.
Redhawk reliever Carlos Vega held the Jackrabbits off the board the rest of the way, striking out six over 3 1/3 innings.
SEMO finished with an 11-8 advantage in hits. Wilson led the way by going 3-for-4, while Stauss and Peyton Faulkner each finished with a pair of hits.
Falk and Gus Steiger each posted two hits for SDSU.
Moxham walked six and struck out two in 4 1/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision. Brett Mogen took the loss in relief.
Up Next
The two teams are scheduled to play today at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Photo from www.gojacks.com.
