Redhawks baseball outlasts Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It took almost five hours, but the Southeast Missouri State baseball team finally outlasted the University of Memphis.

Southeast pushed across an unearned run in the top of the 14th inning to post a 9-8 victory in Friday night's opener of a three-game series that lasted 4 hours, 50 minutes.

The Redhawks evened their record at 5-5, while the Tigers fell to 6-9.

In the 14th, Zak Blemker drew a one-out walk and stole second.

Sean Zollner reached on a ground ball that resulted in a dropped throw at first for one error, and a wild throw for a second error allowed Blemker to come around.

Southeast led 6-2 before Memphis used a five-run eighth to go ahead.

The Redhawks tied things in the top of the ninth, and the score remained 7-7 until the 12th.

Tyrell Cummings' fourth hit of the game, a double, plated Justin Wheeler as Southeast surged back in front 8-7.

But a two-out error in the bottom of the 12th allowed Memphis to forge another tie.

After Southeast went ahead in the 14th, freshman pitcher Brad LaBruyere nailed down the victory with his fourth strong inning of work.

LaBruyere, a Cape Girardeau Central High School product, allowed just the unearned run in the 12th as he recorded his first collegiate win. He gave up one hit, while striking out three and walking two.

Cummings, who went 4-for-7, had a three-run home run, his team-high fourth homer of the season. The junior college transfer also leads the Redhawks with 17 RBIs.

Southeast ace Dustin Renfrow pitched six strong innings, allowing four hits and two runs. The all-Ohio Valley Conference performer struck out 11 and walked one.

Ryan Poole also turned in strong relief work with 2 1/3 innings as he retired all seven batters he faced.

Jim Klocke added two of the Redhawks' 13 hits.

Southeast and Memphis square off at 2 p.m. today, followed by Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale.