Redhawks rally to win opener

A stirring first-game rally set the Southeast Missouri State baseball team up for a much-needed sweep of Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader.

But the Redhawks, continuing their inconsistent trend, failed to finish it off.

Southeast, held to an infield single through eight innings by Eastern Kentucky pitcher Christian Friedrich, scored four runs in the ninth and one in the 10th to squeeze out a 5-4 victory.

The visiting Colonels bounced back to capture the seven-inning nightcap 3-1.

"It's disappointing," Southeast's Tony Spencer said. "Consistency is something we've really struggled with this year. We can't put two wins together. It's something we need to start doing."

Southeast (20-21, 10-11) remained in sixth place in the 10-team OVC with four games remaining. The top six finishers qualify for the OVC tournament.

"That's how it's been all year," said Nick Harris of the Redhawks' up-and-down season.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Blake Slattery beat the tag of Eastern Kentucky's Matt Davis to steal second base Saturday at Capaha Field.

EKU (23-25-1, 10-13) is in eighth place, but only one game behind the Redhawks in the scrambled middle of the conference pack.

The squads close out their three game series at 1 p.m. today.

"We just have to come out and win tomorrow," Harris said.

Harris delivered the knockout blow in the opener after the Redhawks had been dominated by Friedrich, a left-hander who is expected to go in the first round of next month's amateur draft.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com Southeast baserunner Jim Klocke (15) watched coach Mark Hogan for signs Saturday, May 10, 2008, against Eastern Kentucky at Capaha Park.

Harris blasted a walk-off home run to dead center field with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning.

That blow, which carried almost directly over the 400-foot sign, came on the heels of a four-run ninth-inning rally.

"It just got contagious," said Harris of Southeast's late offense against two EKU relievers.

Friedrich was lifted after eight innings — he threw 127 pitches — with the Colonels leading 4-0.

Friedrich struck out 13, walked six and allowed one hit, an infield single by Zachary Blemker in the fifth inning.

The Redhawks were not sorry to see Friedrich depart.

"He showed how good he was," Harris said. "But we knew if we could get him a high pitch count, they'd take him out."

Added Spencer: "When you see a guy that shuts you down all game ... it's nice not to have to face him."

The Redhawks immediately jumped on Jim Clancy, who allowed six hits in the ninth inning.

Tyrell Cummings led off with a single and Matt Wagner singled with one out.

Jim Klocke's single drove in Cummings. A wild pitch moved the runners up, and pinch hitter Matt Wulfers' single scored both to bring the Redhawks within 4-3.

Blemker got his second infield single of the game. Blake Slattery flew out to right, but Wulfers was able to tag and advance to third, which proved crucial.

Spencer's ground ball in the shortstop hole was a tough play for Nick Barnett, who fired wildly to first as Wulfers scored the tying run. Spencer, who might have beaten the throw anyway, was given credit for a hit and RBI on the play.

One inning later, Harris ended the contest against Chris Hord with his ninth homer of the season.

"It was a great comeback by us," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said.

Southeast left-hander James Leigh, who has struggled after a dazzling first month of the season, had his best performance since early.

Leigh allowed six hits and one earned run in six innings. He struck out four and walked three.

Leigh matched Friedrich until the sixth, when EKU broke a scoreless tie with two runs.

"It was encouraging," said Leigh, who had an ERA of nearly 11.00 over his previous six outings after compiling an 0.72 ERA during his first six appearances. "I think I can get back to where I was."

Leigh said being matched against one of the nation's premier pitchers, in front of about 15 professional scouts, gave him added incentive.

"I knew he [Friedrich] was going to throw lights out, like usual," Leigh said. "I knew I would have to bring my 'A' game."

EKU expanded its lead to 4-0 against Lance Rhodes, but Josh Manning threw two scoreless innings and Todd Strahlendorf (4-2) worked a scoreless 10th to receive credit for the victory.

"Manning and Strahlendorf gave us good innings," Hogan said.

But the Redhawks also struggled offensively against EKU's second-game starter, managing just four hits off McKenzie Willoughby, who entered with a solid ERA under 3.00.

Willoughby held Southeast to three singles until the seventh, when Matt Wagner drilled a one-out homer. It was Wagner's ninth home run, which ties Harris for second on the squad behind Cummings' 10.

But Willoughby finished off the complete game. He struck out four and walked one.

"He did a fabulous job for them," Hogan said.

Southeast ace Dustin Renfrow allowed a two-run homer to Tyler Rehmel in the opening inning and that proved to be the difference.

Renfrow (4-5) was touched for six hits and three runs over the first three innings, but gave up just one hit over the final four frames.

"He really just made one bad pitch," Hogan said.