Redhawks squander late lead in 12-10 loss to Jackson State

~ Southeast lost a seven-run advantage and its first game.

JACKSON, Miss. -- What looked like it would be a great season-opening weekend for Southeast Missouri State baseball ended on a sour note.

The Redhawks, after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader from host Jackson State, led the Tigers 10-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday.

But the Tigers scored nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings -- all with two outs -- to stun the Redhawks 12-10 in the series finale.

Southeast (2-1) missed out on its first 3-0 start since 2001, while JSU (1-6) posted its first win of the season.

Six walks by Southeast pitchers in the decisive seventh and eighth frames helped sink the Redhawks.

Four walks, along with two errors, came in the seventh as the Tigers scored six runs -- four earned -- capped by a grand slam that made it 10-9.

In the eighth, Phillip Riley struck out the first batter before issuing two walks.

Asif Shah, who earned a save with two scoreless innings in Saturday's nightcap, replaced Riley.

Shah got a ground ball for the second out, with the runners advancing, but Cortez Cole lined a two-run double down the left-field line to give the Tigers their first lead of the series. JSU tacked on another run in the inning.

Riley, one of six Southeast pitchers, took the loss.

Southeast starter Dustin Renfrow, a junior college transfer, worked the first four innings and was solid. He allowed three runs, just one earned. He gave up three hits, struck out two and walked one.

Brent Lawson took over for Renfrow in the fifth and was strong, allowing just one hit in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

But the rest of the Redhawks' relievers struggled with their control.

The Redhawks hit their first two home runs of the season, including a two-run shot in the first inning by Nebraska transfer Matt Wagner that put Southeast ahead.

After Southeast plated two more runs in the second inning, Shah's two-run homer in the third made it 6-0.

Leading 7-3, the Redhawks appeared to add plenty of insurance when they scored three times in the sixth, the big blow being a two-run double by freshman Jim Klocke, who had delivered an RBI double earlier in the game.

But the Tigers then staged their dramatic rally.

Southeast had 12 hits, led by two apiece from Klocke, Riley, Dustin Pritchett and freshman Nick Harris.

The Redhawks committed five errors in the game. Southeast made only two errors in 16 innings Saturday, when it swept the Tigers 7-4 and 2-0.

Southeast finished the series with 27 hits, led by Harris, Wagner and Riley.

Harris and Wagner had especially impressive debuts. Harris went 6-for-14 with two doubles, while Wagner went 5-for-13 with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs.

Riley was 5-for-11 over the weekend, while Pritchett had two triples.

The Redhawks play their first home contest at 2 p.m. Friday when South Dakota State visits Capaha Field for the start of a three-game series.