Clutch double in 15th seals Southwest win

It's apparent Dant'e Brinkley is a clutch player.

The junior center fielder for Southwest Missouri State University delivered his third game-winning, extra-inning hit of the season Friday, an RBI double in the top of the 15th that helped sink Southeast 5-3.

An announced crowd of 325 fans at Capaha Field saw the Bears improve to 9-3 and the Indians fall to 6-8. The squads will resume their three-game series at 1 p.m. today.

"We've been winning a lot of extra-inning games so we weren't too worried," Brinkley said.

After 14 innings of mostly high drama, the Bears broke through in the 15th off Andy Davidson (0-1), Southeast's fourth and final pitcher of the day.

After the first two Bears were retired, Matt Gardner singled to left, went to second on a wild pitch and scored when Brinkley laced his double to right. Jeremy Isenhower singled in Brinkley for insurance.

Southeast coach Mark Hogan regretted pitching to Brinkley, who entered the contest batting .390.

"It's my fault," Hogan said. "I thought about pitching around him. In hindsight, we should have walked him."

While Hogan blamed himself, he found little fault with his players.

"We had plenty of opportunities to win, but I don't think you can ask more of what my team gave," he said.

The pitching was strong on both sides. Southeast starter Brad Purcell worked the first 8 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and three runs, only one of them earned. He struck out 10 and walked two.

"I felt good. I just wanted to go as long as I could," Purcell said. "It's frustrating to lose, but I know we'll bounce back."

Denver Stuckey, the Indians' third baseman pitching in college for the first time this season, then worked five scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, with four strikeouts and one walk.

For SMS, starter Matt Palmer allowed three runs (one earned) and four hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out nine and walked two.

Bob Zimmermann (2-1) shut the Indians out over the final 7 2/3 innings, allowing six hits while striking out four and walking two.

"The pitching was great on both sides," SMS coach Keith Guttin said. "We were fortunate to win the game."

Vern Hatton had four of the Indians' 10 hits, including two doubles. Zach Borowiak added two hits.

Brinkley had four of the Bears' nine hits.

While the defense of both teams was solid overall, a few key errors figured into the scoring. Particularly frustrating for the Indians was a defensive miscue that did not go into the books as an error.

Southeast led 3-2 entering the ninth. Brinkley led off with a single and Isenhower walked. Tony Piazza then hit a ground ball to shortstop Zach Borowiak that looked like a routine double play. Borowiak threw to second baseman Clemente Bonilla for the force, but Bonilla's relay to first was wide and Eric Hoffman could not keep his foot on the bag.

So instead of having a runner at third with two outs, the Bears had first and third with one out. Greg Mathis then delivered a sacrifice fly to left, which would have been the game's final out if the Indians had been able to turn the double play.

"It should have been routine, but it kept the game going," Hogan said.

Both teams had several scoring chances in extra innings. The Bears had the bases loaded with one out in the 11th but failed to score.

In the 13th, the Indians missed winning by inches. With a runner on third and two outs, right fielder Mathis made a sliding catch on a line drive hit by Brian Hopkins, snaring the ball just before it hit the grass.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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