Southeast splits two with SDSU

Southeast Missouri State played from behind for most of Saturday's doubleheader with South Dakota State at Capaha Field.

The Redhawks were able to climb out of a first-game hole, but faltered late in the nightcap as they settled for a split in the seven-inning contests.

Southeast won 6-5 with two runs in the seventh, then lost 8-5 after allowing three seventh-inning runs.

Still, the Redhawks (6-8) took two of three games in the series -- and also had coach Mark Hogan feeling much better about his inexperienced team.

"I thought we did a lot of good things. I was very encouraged," said Hogan, whose squad had captured Friday's series opener 5-1 to end a four-game losing streak. "I thought it was a good series, and we really battled. I think we'll be able to build on this."

As an added bonus, the Redhawks and Jackrabbits (2-8) were able to get in all three games despite heavy rain in a 48-hour period that left all the contests in jeopardy due to potentially hazardous field conditions.

"I think we had about a 50-hour weekend, with all the work we had to do on the field," Hogan said. "It's pretty remarkable we were able to play all three games."

Considering the Redhawks were ahead in only one of Saturday's 14 innings, they were fortunate to emerge with a split.

Southeast's only lead of the day came in the bottom of the seventh during the opener, when the Redhawks rallied in dramatic fashion.

Trailing 5-4 entering their final at-bat -- after SDSU had scored a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh -- the Redhawks got a good start when junior Daryl Graham led off by drawing a four-pitch walk. Junior Chad Mercado sacrificed Graham to second, and freshman Aaron Rave's single moved Graham to third.

Junior Dustin Pritchett, who had already doubled twice in the contest, drilled a 1-2 pitch off the center-field fence for a game-ending triple, as Rave followed Graham home by scoring easily from first with the winning run.

"I was looking offspeed, and it really surprised me when I got a fastball in. I was lucky enough to get my hands around," Pritchett said. "I was just hoping to get it to the outfield to score at least one run."

Pritchett, who redshirted last season because due to injury, suffered an injury late in Saturday's nightcap.

Hogan said Pritchett hurt his left wrist on a play in the outfield and had to leave the game. The wrist was heavily wrapped following the game, and Hogan said there was considerable swelling immediately.

"That's usually not a good sign, but we'll keep our fingers crossed," Hogan said. "He just had a tremendous performance in the opener, the best of his Division I career, and this would be a real shame if it set him back."

The Redhawks, who trailed 4-1 after 3 1/2 innings, had nine hits, with junior Omar Padilla adding two.

Southeast, in addition to the two doubles and a triple from Pritchett, got home runs from Padilla and Jordan Payne, the first of the season for both. The Redhawks entered play having just one homer all year.

Junior Phillip Riley (1-1) recorded the final out in the seventh, after SDSU had gone ahead, and was credited with the win when Southeast rallied.

The Redhawks got solid relief work from junior Josh Parham out of Jackson High School. He allowed one run and one hit in 2 1/3 innings, with four strikeouts.

Junior starter Asif Shah allowed four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Shah, who stayed in the game in the outfield, survived a scary moment when he was hit on the helmet by a pitch in the fifth inning. He left the game and did not play in the nightcap, although Hogan said he should be fine.

Southeast also rallied in the nightcap, as a three-run sixth forged a 5-5 tie. But the Jackrabbits responded with a three-run seventh.

The Redhawks had eight hits, led by two apiece from Padilla, Mercado and Riley, who got his first homer.

Junior Matt Carter, Southeast's sixth pitcher, took the loss as he began the seventh. Senior starter Anthony Maupin allowed two runs and three hits in 4 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts.

Jake Rogers had three hits and four RBIs on the day for SDSU. He and Tyson Fisher homered.