Boggetto hits walk off in Southeast Missouri State baseball team's win over Jacksonville State

Whether it was a hot bat or a golden glove, Branden Boggetto had both, which proved to be the difference in Friday's game between Southeast and Jacksonville State at Capaha Field.

The junior shortstop led off the ninth inning with a solo home run -- his second of the day -- over the left-field fence, lifting the Redhawks to a 5-4 walk-off win over the Gamecocks in the three-game series opener.

"I just wanted to go up there leading off the inning and get on base, try to get a runner in scoring position," said Boggetto, who finished 3 for 4 at the plate. "I was lucky to do what I did. I put a good swing on the ball."

But offense was only part of Boggetto's standout performance.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning, the Redhawks were clinging to a 4-3 lead with runners on first and second, both of which were issued by starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi, whose pitch count broke the century mark at the start of the inning.

Southeast Missouri State's Andy Lennington hits a double down the left-field line against Jacksonville State that scored Trevor Ezell and Jason Blum during the fifth inning Friday, April 17, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Instead of turning to his bullpen, Southeast coach Steve Bieser kept Lucchesi in the game in hopes that his defense to secure the final out.

Gavin Golsan, JSU's leadoff hitter, lined a hard-hit ball away from Boggetto, who hovered toward third base to field the ball and tossed back to second for the out.

The difficult defensive play drew a roar from the crowd of more than 1,400, but more importantly, it retired the side for the Redhawks.

"I knew that was a big situation there. We had two outs. We really just wanted to make a huge play for Joey on the mound," Boggetto said. "He hit the ball, and I just made a good play on it."

Bieser said he continues to be impressed by Boggetto's progress at shortstop.

"Coming in as a freshman playing short for us 50 percent of the time, he just continues to get better and better defensively. I wouldn't trade him at shortstop for anybody in the league. I like him that much," Bieser said. "I really just think he's a guy that's getting rewarded, and he works extremely hard. He deserves everything he gets."

Southeast (23-14, 14-5 Ohio Valley Conference) fell behind in the top of the first, when Tyler Gamble scored Clayton Daniel on an RBI double. JSU (19-17, 7-9) pushed its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly by Paschal Petrongolo, but the Redhawks answered in the bottom of the fourth on a from Dalton Hewitt, who scored Andy Lennington to trim the Gamecocks' lead to 2-1.

Southeast Missouri State starter Joey Lucchesi delivers a pitch to a Jacksonville State batter during the sixth inning Friday, April 17, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Batting in the No. 8 spot, Boggetto got Southeast started in the bottom of the fifth by leading off the inning with a solo home run to right field, tying the game at 2-all.

"To me, it looks like he's seeing the ball very well right now," Bieser said about Boggetto. "He's very disciplined, and he's really looking for something at the heart of the plate. When he gets it at the heart of the plate right now, he's putting a good swing on it and hitting the ball harder."

The Redhawks loaded the bases with nobody out, but Garrett Gandolfo grounded into a 2-3-2 double play that kept runners at second and third with two down. The next batter, Lennington, gave Southeast a 4-2 advantage on a two-run double that was driven down the left-field line.

Meanwhile, Lucchesi retired nine straight from the third through the fifth in earning a no decision. He went seven innings, scattered five hits, allowed three runs -- all earned -- and had eight strikeouts and two walks.

"He's a strike thrower, and he just battles out there," Bieser said about Lucchesi. "He competes. He knows what he wants to do, and he can throw any pitch in any count. He's got a plus-fastball and just really good breaking stuff. That's what makes him successful.

"He believes in himself. He attacks the strike zone. He makes them earn everything they get."

Gamble hit a solo home run to right field to cut the Redhawks' lead to 4-3 in the top of the sixth, and Matt Wade came in to relieve Lucchesi to start the eighth.

Southeast Missouri State second baseman Jason Blum leaves the infield after catching Brandon Boggetto's throw that retired Jacksonville State's Hayden White during the seventh inning Friday, April 17, 2015 at Capaha Field. (Fred Lynch)

Wade retired the first two batters he faced, but a single from Gamble and an RBI double from Ryan Sebra tied the game at 4-4. Wade responded by retiring four of his final five batters to preserve the win. He had one strikeout and one walk in two innings of relief.

Bieser said he likes the way Wade, a redshirt freshman, keeps himself composed late in games.

"Matt's a guy who has life in perspective, and he can control those types of situations. That's why he's in that position because he's a guy that trusts himself, and doesn't get too high or too low," Bieser said. "... When we're right and our defense is playing the way we're capable of playing, then it's an advantage for Matt Wade."

Zach Fowler got the start for JSU and earned a no decision. He struck out six, walked two and allowed eight hits and four runs -- all earned -- in seven innings. Joe McGuire took the loss in one inning of relief.

The series resumes at 1 p.m. Saturday, and Bieser said rain in Sunday's forecast could force the two teams to play a doubleheader. He said a plan will be put in place Saturday morning.

"We've seen a lot of different changes in the weather. Early on, we thought Saturday was going to be kind of out. ... Right now it looks like Sunday's going to be pretty dicey," Bieser said. "If we feel that Sunday's going to be a big question mark, we'll just start at 1 p.m. and play a doubleheader to make sure we get the series in."