Southeast Missouri State baseball team falls in 14-inning thriller

The Indiana State baseball team was shut out for 12 consecutive innings by Southeast Missouri State on Saturday night.

But the Sycamores finally broke their string of zeroes on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 14th inning on a walk-off double to win Game 2 against the Redhawks 4-3 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

After a leadoff walk and a hit batsman, ISU right fielder Jacob Hayes sent a one-out double to right center to plate the winning run.

It was the first run allowed by Southeast since the first inning.

Redhawks starting pitcher Alex Winkelman issued consecutive walks to start the game before Sycamores third baseman Andy Young homered to put ISU up 3-0.

Southeast shortstop Branden Boggetto hit his team-leading 10th home run -- a two-run shot to left that scored right fielder Dalton Hewitt -- to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the second.

The score held until the top of the eighth inning. Third baseman Trevor Ezell hit a one-out double down the first-base line and advanced to third on a wild pitch before designated hitter Garrett Gandolfo brought him home with a two-out single to second base that evened the game at 3-3.

The Redhawks nearly allowed ISU to regain its lead in the bottom of the inning. Winkelman gave up a leadoff double to center fielder Landon Curry, who advanced to third on a wild pitch. The junior lefty then coaxed the Sycamores into a ground out and a foul out before striking out Hayes to escape the jam.

Winkelman allowed a two-out single and a walk -- his first issued since the third inning -- before recording his sixth strikeout to send the game into extra innings. Winkelman allowed just three earned runs and five hits in his nine innings of work. He walked five batters.

The Redhawks had runners in scoring position in the 11th, but pinch hitter Scott Mitchell struck out on three pitches to strand them.

Ryan Lenaburg, who pitched three scoreless innings of relief and allowed just two hits while walking four and striking out a pair after taking over in the 10th, worked his way out of a jam in the bottom of the 12th.

Curry drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out to right. Southeast then intentionally walked Young and Hayes to load the bases with one out and Lenaburg got the next two batters to foul out and fly out to send it to the 13th.

The Redhawks had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the 13th after three walks.

Reliever Michael Eberle, the second pitcher of the inning for the Sycamores, issued two of the walks and had a 3-0 count on Mitchell before he was replaced by Nick Kolarik.

Kolarik threw two strikes before getting Mitchell to fly out to right field and strand all three.

Alex Siddle retired ISU in order in the bottom half.

Southeast had two runners on with one out in the 14th after Peter Williams and second baseman Jason Blum were each hit by a pitch.

Trent Lunsford came in to pitch and faced pinch hitter Cole Ferguson, who grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Siddle issued the leadoff walk to Curry in the bottom of the 14th before freshman Zach Moore relieved him and struck out a batter and hit a batter before Hayes' game-winning hit.

Siddle (0-1) took the loss on the mound while Lunsford (1-2) picked up the win for the Sycamores. ISU starter Ryan Keaffaber pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts. Austin Conway pitched the next five in scoreless relief and gave up four hits while walking two and striking out eight.

Southeast batters struck out 16 times, recorded nine hits and stranded 12 base runners in the game. Catcher Hunter Leeper went 3 for 5 to pace the Redhawks offense.

The Sycamores had eight hits, drew 10 walks and stranded 12. Curry finished 2 for 4 with two runs and Hayes was 2 for 5 with one RBI.

The loss marked the second straight series loss for the Redhawks, who dropped to 31-19 on the season.

While Southeast is playing out of conference, the Redhawks can still lock up a share of its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular-season championship with a Morehead State loss today. The Eagles (32-18, 17-9 OVC) will go for a sweep Jacksonville State when they face off at 1 p.m. today.