Redhawks win OVC thriller 16-14 in 12 innings

~ Southeast rallied from an eight-run deficit to defeat Austin Peay.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- By losing both ends of Saturday's doubleheader at Austin Peay, Southeast Missouri State was assured of its first Ohio Valley Conference series loss of the season.

But the Redhawks avoided a series sweep Sunday with a wild 16-14, 12-inning victory, thanks in large part to a comeback from a 10-2 deficit after six innings.

The game was officially timed at 5 hours and 7 minutes.

"It was crazy, but what a comeback by our guys and it's a great win for our program," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "I'm just real proud of our whole club. It was a real team win.

"I don't ever remember being down like that in the seventh inning and coming back to win. It says a lot for our guys."

Southeast, improving to 25-15 overall and 10-5 in OVC play, moved into sole possession of second place and pulled within one game of first-place Jacksonville State.

Austin Peay (22-17, 9-6), which began the day tied for second place with Southeast, fell into fourth place, percentage points behind Murray State.

Trailing 10-2 entering the seventh inning, the Redhawks got back in the game by scoring six times. The key blow was a three-run homer by Matt Wagner, while Phillip Riley added a solo shot for his second home run of the series.

Behind 11-8, the Redhawks rallied again with a two-run eighth and a three-run ninth to go ahead 13-11.

In the ninth, Robby Moore and Omar Padilla got one-out singles and moved up on a wild pitch, then Moore scored on Jim Klocke's ground out. After a hit batter and a walk, Wagner delivered a two-run single.

Austin Peay tied it in the bottom of the ninth on three hits against Josh Parham, but Riley came on in relief and retired the final two batters with two runners on.

After neither team scored in the 10th, Southeast went back ahead 14-13 in the 11th as Matt Wulfers' infield single plated Nick Harris, who had started the inning by striking out but reaching on a wild pitch.

Riley was within one out of nailing down the victory, but freshman pinch-hitter Tyler Bullock forged another tie with a two-out homer in the 11th.

Undaunted, the Redhawks came right back with two runs in the 12th as they went ahead for good.

Moore led off with a walk, was wild-pitched to second and wild-pitched to third as Padilla struck out. Moore was still at third with two outs when Harris bunted for a hit to plate Moore. Harris stole second and scored on Daryl Graham's single.

Riley then retired the Govs in the bottom of the 12th to close out the improbable win.

"It was a game that seemed like it would never end," Hogan said.

The contest featured 43 hits, 22 by Austin Peay.

Southeast had 21 hits, led by Harris and Padilla. Harris went 4-for-7 with four runs batted in and five runs scored. Padilla went 4-for-8.

Harris, a freshman, tied a school record by scoring five times. Padilla, a senior, set a school mark with eight at-bats.

Moore and Riley both had three hits, while Wagner had two hits and six RBIs. Wulfers added two hits.

Southeast freshman left-hander Josh Syberg, who entered with the OVC's sixth-best ERA at 2.83, was knocked out in the fourth inning after allowing eight hits and seven runs (six earned).

Four pitchers followed Syberg to the mound, with Riley (5-3) notching the victory. In 3 2/3 innings, he gave up only one run and two hits. He struck out three and walked none.

"What a fantastic job by Riley, on the mound and at the plate," Hogan said.