Southeast Missouri State baseball team uses 10-run first inning to down Murray State

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team wasted little time to put Saturday's game against Murray State out of reach for the Racers.

The Ohio Valley Conference-leading Redhawks plated 10 runs in the first inning and held on for a 17-12 victory in the second game of a three game series at Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky.

Defending OVC co-pitcher of the year Brock Downey lasted just 1/3 of an inning for MSU and was hit for six earned runs.

Seven of Southeast's 21 hits came in the top of the first, including a two-run home run by first baseman Ryan Rippee, a three-RBI triple off the bat of third baseman Trevor Ezell and a solo homer from designated hitter Garrett Gandolfo that put the Redhawks up 10-0. Every player scored a run in the first inning as Southeast sent 13 batters to the plate.

Southeast held leads of 12-4 after four innings and 14-9 after six.

Rippee's second home run of the day -- a two-run shot to left center -- and RBI double from center fielder Brendon Neel put the Redhawks ahead 17-9 in the top of the seventh.

That lead held until the bottom of the ninth.

Reliever Perry Middleton, whose only previous outing this season was an inning against Saint Louis on March 24, walked three of the first four batters he faced to load the bases with one out.

Designated hitter Garrett Gandolfo hits a solo home run during the first inning of Southeast's 17-12 victory over Murray State on Saturday. (Submitted by Wayne McPherson)

Wes Pyles took over on the mound and a run scored on an error by Ezell at third. The Racers cut it to 17-12 with a single up the middle by second baseman Nick Moore before Pyles walked third baseman Kipp Moore to reload the bases with one out.

Alex Siddle entered and got the next two batters to strikeout and fly out to end it.

Southeast starter Travis Hayes, who shared OVC co-pitcher of the year honors with Downey as a junior, improved to 7-4 with the win. He allowed eight runs, two earned, on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked five batters and struck out six.

MSU recorded just nine hits in the game but capitalized off the Redhawk pitching staff's lack of control and uncharacteristically poor defense. Southeast issued 13 walks and committed a season-high five errors.

Downey fell to 4-5 on the season with the loss. He gave up six earned runs on five hits with one walk in his 1/3 of an inning.

Ezell went 4 for 7 with four RBI and two runs and was a home run short of hitting for the cycle. Gandolfo was 3 for 5 with three RBI and two runs while Hewitt was 3 for 6 with two RBIs and two runs.

Rippee, Neel, second baseman Jason Blum and shortstop Branden Boggetto each had two hits apiece.

Southeast improved to 27-15 and 18-5 in the conference and its magic number to clinch the OVC title for the second year in a row is four.

The loss was the 12th in a row for the Racers, who dropped to 14-30 and 9-11 in conference.

The Redhawks have now won all eight of its conference series this season and will try for their third series sweep of an OVC opponent when the two teams meet for the finale at 1 p.m. today.