Southeast Missouri State baseball team's luck changes in 11-inning win over Memphis

~ The 11-inning win Friday against Memphis snapped Southeast's streak of one-run losses

Southeast Missouri State junior first baseman Matt Tellor did not look good -- and that's putting it mildly -- in missing two breaking balls from Memphis pitcher Craig Caufield during the bottom of the 11th inning Friday night.

Tellor assumed another one was coming with runners on second and third and two outs in a tie game -- and he was ready for it.

"His curve had a real sharp break. He buried a couple in the dirt and made me look bad," Tellor said. "I knew it was coming. I moved up in the box and he might have left it up a little bit."

Tellor drilled a 1-2 pitch from Caufield, who had dominated Southeast during his first three relief innings, on a line to right field as junior left fielder Derek Gibson trotted home from third base.

Southeast Missouri State second baseman Jason Blum fields a ground ball to start a double play during Friday's game against Memphis. (WAYNE MCPHERSON ~ Special to Southeast Missourian)

Tellor's walk-off single lifted the Redhawks to a 3-2 win in the middle matchup of a three-game nonconference series to end the regular season.

"We've lost a lot of close games this year," said Tellor, who finished the regular season leading Southeast with eight home runs and 43 RBIs. "It feels good to come out on top."

Southeast had lost all four of its extra-inning games this season. The Redhawks also were 3-9 in one-run decisions and had dropped their previous six one-run contests.

"It's been very difficult for us in those one-run games, and we finally got an extra-inning game. It was big for us," Southeast coach Steve Bieser said.

Caufield, a redshirt freshman, struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings. He retired the first two batters in the 11th before Gibson reached on an infield single and sophomore second baseman Jason Blum walked.

The runners moved up on a wild pitch before Tellor's winning blow.

"We fought all the way to the end," Tellor said.

It didn't look like the Redhawks would need to play 3 hours and 51 minutes -- the official time of the game -- as the top of the ninth inning unfolded.

But Memphis, trailing 2-1, pulled even with a gift run, denying freshman Alex Siddle his first collegiate save and senior left-hander Zack Smith a win in his final Capaha Field performance.

Siddle, who had fired off 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief of Smith, hit Tucker Tubbs with a pitch leading off the ninth. Then came the play that kept the Tigers alive.

Drew Griffin, trying to sacrifice, bunted a line drive toward Tellor.

With pinch-runner Jacob Moody having to hold close to first, Tellor just missed making a diving catch. But Tellor was able to quickly pick the ball up and throw out Griffin as Blum covered first.

Moody was still at least 20 feet from second base, making for what should have been an easy double play. But Blum's throw sailed over the head of freshman shortstop Branden Boggetto. The ball bounced into left field as Moody advanced to third base on the error.

"It was such an easy play, Jason kind of wanted to flip it in there easy," Bieser said. "He probably makes that throw 99 out of 100 times. Tonight was the one he didn't."

Senior closer Bobby Hurst, relieving Siddle, threw a pitch that got past freshman catcher Tyler Boxwell for a passed ball as Moody scored the tying run. Hurst struck out the next two batters.

Memphis left the bases loaded in the top of the 11th before Southeast broke through in the bottom of the frame.

"It was nice to see the guys really battle back from that [ninth inning]," Bieser said.

Smith had a strong outing in his final home start. He allowed one run and four hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.

"It was kind of emotional before the game. I've pitched a lot of games on this field, between Southeast and the [Plaza Tire] Capahas [last summer]," Smith said. "It was nice to have a good game and for us to win."

Siddle fired 2 2/3 hitless innings, being charged with the unearned run. He struck out three and walked one.

"Zack set the tone, and Alex is looking really good. He's been doing that for a while," Bieser said. "Our entire pitching staff did a good job."

That includes Hurst and senior Tony Zerrusen (2-2), who notched the victory by working scoreless 10th and 11 innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one.

The Tigers got three of their four hits off Smith in the third inning to take a 1-0 lead.

Southeast tied it in the fourth inning. Sophomore DH Ryan Barnes led off with a double, went to third on a one-out wild pitch and scored on Boxwell's two-out single.

It was Boxwell's first collegiate RBI and third collegiate hit as he was making just his fifth start.

The Redhawks got a break to take the lead in the fifth inning as right fielder Austin Hatfield appeared to lose Blum's leadoff fly ball at the last instant just as he was preparing to make the catch. The ball got past Hatfield for a triple, and Blum scored on sophomore right fielder Dalton Hewitt's one-out double.

Southeast outhit Memphis 11-5, the Tigers having just one hit after the third inning.

Hewitt continued his surge, going 3 for 5. He ended the regular season as Southeast's leading hitter with a .338 average.

Blum and Tellor added two hits apiece.