CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.–
Danny Wright delivered a two-out RBI-double in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Southeast Missouri (12-9) the lead as the Redhawks came from behind to beat Memphis (10-9), 7-6, Tuesday at Capaha Field.
Tied, 6-6, after six-and-a-half innings, Wright broke through with what ended up being the game-winning hit after SEMO went 0-for-5 with the bases loaded.
Connor Basler reached on a one-out double up the middle to give SEMO a jolt in the seventh inning. After
Devon Wilson grounded out, Wright knocked in Basler for the go-ahead run on his sixth double of the season.
Starting pitchers
Bryce Grossius and Bailey Wimberley were shaky from the start and neither lasted longer than an inning.
Grossius and Wimberley combined to give up seven runs on five hits, issue seven walks and hit two batters in a 44-minute first inning.
Memphis scored the game's first four runs. Nick Vaage reached on a one-out walk and went to third on a double by Hunter Goodman. Alec Trela flied out to left and Vaage scored. Cale Hennemann hit an infield single and Kyle Ouellette was hit by a pitch to load the bases. On the next play, Goodman scored on a passed ball. Payton Marshall and Keith Stepter each walked and Hennemann touched home on Stepter's bases on balls. An ensuing balk allowed Stepter to cross home plate giving the Tigers an early 4-0 advantage.
SEMO answered with three runs of its own to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the first.
Basler led off with a walk and advanced to second on an error. Basler went to third on a single by Wilson and scored when Wright hit into a fielder's choice. A two-RBI double by
Tyler Wilber came after that as the Redhawks quickly closed Memphis' lead to 4-3.
The Tigers added another run in the top of the third, but SEMO tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
SEMO scored both of its runs without getting a hit capitalizing on five walks and a wild pitch. Wilson walked with the bases loaded to score
Garrett Stephens.
Andrew Keck then tied things up at 5-5 when he touched home on Wright's groundout to second.
Both teams scored one run in the sixth inning before SEMO prevailed in the seventh.
Trela hit a solo home run for the Tigers with two outs in the top of the sixth and Wilber scored on a wild pitch for the Redhawks bringing the score to 6-6.
A total of seven pitchers took the mound for SEMO.
Austin Sachse (2-2) was credited with the win out of the bullpen. Sachse tossed two scoreless one-hit innings with a strikeout.
Aaron Stretch struck out one and forced Marshall to groundout to short with a runner on third in the ninth. Stretch picked up his second save of the season.
Meanwhile, eight pitchers saw action for Memphis. Landon Kelly (1-2) was charged with the loss after giving up the go-ahead run on two hits.
Offensively, each of the first six hitters in SEMO's lineup had a hit. Wilber and
Turner Fritts each went 2-for-4 to lead the way. Fritts played with a heavy heart in his return after missing several games because his father recently passed away. Basler, Wilson, Wright,
Alex Nielsen and Gonzalez followed close behind with one hit each. Wright also led the Redhawks with three RBI.
SEMO hitters walked nine times in the game. It marked the fifth time this season where the Redhawks drew nine or more walks.
Hennemann and Marshall paced the Tigers with two hits apiece.
The Redhawks evened their record to 2-2 in one-run games this season.
SEMO returns to Ohio Valley Conference action when it opens a three-game series against Austin Peay Friday. The Governors come to Cape Girardeau presently third in the league standings. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., CT, at Capaha Field.
