CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For the third time in his career, senior shortstop
Branden Boggetto hit a walk-off home run to lead the Redhawks to victory Saturday, this time over Morehead State, 5-4.
The Redhawks remain perfect in Ohio Valley Conference play at 5-0 and are 12-8 on the season. Morehead State falls to 12-6, 3-2 OVC.
Clay Chandler started the game for Southeast and pitched seven and one-third innings. Chandler gave up four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits. Chandler struck out three hitters and walked one.
Adam Pennington (1-0) picked up the win in relief, his first win of the season. Pennington worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings on the mound, allowing three hits, striking out four, and walking three.
With Eagle runners on second and third and one out in the top of the first, Reid Leonard singled to center field to plate both runs and open a 2-0 lead on the Redhawks.
Trevor Ezell drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the second. Ezell stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He scored on a single to left by Boggetto to cut the Eagle lead to 2-1 after the first inning.
The 2-1 Morehead State lead stood until the bottom of the fifth. A base hit, a walk, and an error by the third baseman loaded the bases full of Redhawks with no out. A hectic play that had the potential to be a triple play resulted in being a groundout to first base by
Daniel Costello that scored
Ryan Rippee to tie the game, 2-2. Ezell singled up the middle to score
Scott Mitchell and give the Redhawks a 3-2 advantage.
The Eagles retied the game in the seventh with an unearned run off a bad throw by Chandler fielding a bunt, 3-3.
Southeast immediately got the run back in the bottom of the inning.
Hunter Leeper doubled to right center to plate
Brian Lees and retake a 4-3 lead.
Will Schneider hit a leadoff triple in the top of the eighth and scored on a sacrifice fly but Leonard, once again tying the game at 4-4.
The game was forced into extra innings. With one out in the bottom of the 10
th inning, Boggetto stepped in and blasted a walk-off home run off the scoreboard in left field to secure the 5-4 victory for the Redhawks.
Boggetto finished the game going 2-for-5 with two RBI. He was the only Redhawk with a multi-hit game.
Southeast was out-hit in the game, 9-6.
Schneider was the only Eagle hitter with a multi-hit performance but Leonard driving in three.
The Redhawks will go for the sweep of Morehead State Sunday at 1 p.m. LHP
Robert Beltran will get the start for the Redhawks.