Seven-run 10th inning propels Southeast Missouri State baseball team past Murray State

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team received a career outing from starter Joey Lucchesi, weathered a blown save in the ninth and eventually pounced on the Murray State bullpen to win its series opener Friday night at Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky.

After the Racers tied it up in the bottom of the ninth, the Redhawks responded with a seven-run 10th inning en route to a 10-3 victory.

Southeast held a 2-1 lead after one inning. Designated hitter Garrett Gandolfo drove in a run with a double and scored on a single off the bat of left fielder Andy Lennington. Lucchesi allowed his only run of the game in the bottom of the inning.

The Redhawks didn't record another hit off MSU starting pitcher Brad Boegel until the top of the eighth. Second baseman Jason Blum led off with a double down the left-field line, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second wild pitch from Boegel to put Southeast up 3-1.

Meanwhile, Lucchesi allowed just one hit after the first inning -- a single in the sixth. He exited after throwing 126 pitches over eight innings. The junior transfer had thrown a career-high 13 strikeouts while issuing three walks before redshirt freshman closer Matthew Wade took the mound to start the bottom of the ninth.

Wade issued a one-out walk and hit a batter. Pinch hitter Kipp Moore grounded to third, but reached on a throwing error by Blum, who tried to turn a double play. Designated hitter Clay Kelly scored from second on the play and Moore ended up at second.

Wade gave up an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3 and blow his second save opportunity in a row. He hit one more batter before a strikeout sent the game to extra innings.

Boegel returned to the mound to start the 10th. Blum drew a lead-off walk, was sacrificed to second and scored the go-ahead run on a double by third baseman Trevor Ezell to knock Boegel out of the game.

Andrew Bramley relieved him and shortstop Branden Boggetto singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Ezell.

Gandolfo walked before Lennington doubled home Boggetto to give the Redhawks a three-run cushion.

First baseman Ryan Rippee drove home Gandolfo and Lennington with a single to right before catcher Scott Mitchell capped the seven-run 10th with a two-run homer to right center for the final score. Half of Southeast's 10 hits came in the 10th inning.

The Racers put together a two-out double and a walk in the bottom of the inning, but nothing else as they dropped to 14-29 and 9-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Southeast is now four games ahead in first place in the standings with a record of 26-15 overall and 17-5 in the OVC.

Wade (3-0) was credited with the win. He allowed two unearned runs on one hit with one walk and one strikeout in the ninth.

Boegel (1-5) was tagged with the loss. He gave up five earned runs on six hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in 9 ⅓ innings of work and 140 pitches.

The two teams are scheduled to play Game 2 of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday. Travis Hayes and Brock Downey, last season's OVC co-pitchers of the year, are set to get the starting nod for their respective teams.