Southeast Missouri 9 Belmont 6 - Box Score I PDF Version

JACKSON, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning on their way to downing third seeded Belmont 9-6 in the Southeast's OVC Tournament Opener on Wednesday night at the Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, Tenn. The Redhawks outhit Belmont 17-12 on the evening as eight of the nine starters recorded at least two hits in the contest.

“We were able to execute early and gave our team the opportunity to win the game,” said head coach Steve Bieser. “I'm so proud of this team and the way that we fight game in and game out.”
 
The Redhawks are now 3-0 as the sixth seed all-time in OVC Tournament openers getting wins this season, 2006 and 2012.
 
Southeast was led Nolan Fisher as he was 3-for-5 on the night with a run scored. Jason Blum was 2-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBI as he reached base five times on the night.
 
Derek Gibson added a pair of hits and three RBI including what proved to be the game winners in the top of the ninth inning.
 
Freshman Alex Siddle was outstanding out of the Redhawks 'pen going four scoreless innings allowing only two hits with four strikeouts.

"Alex really took control and kept making pitches,” said Bieser.

The Redhawks got on the board first in the opening frame with a run after an error by the Belmont shortstop. The Redhawks had two runners on third one was thrown out on a failed squeeze play and one was thrown out trying to score in the top of the first.
 
The Redhawks followed with three runs in the top of the second inning. Southeast scored the first run of the frame on a double play.
 
The Redhawks then added runs on an RBI double from Blum, his 20^th of the season and an RBI single by Gibson.
 
Southeast added another run to extend their lead to 5-0 in the third inning on an RBI single by Clayton Evans.
 
The Bruins got on the board in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run single by Matt Beaty to make it 5-2 Southeast.
 
The Redhawks added a run in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field Blum, his fourth home run of the season and his first since March 3.
 
Belmont tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth inning with four runs on five hits. The Bruins recorded three extra base hits in the inning with two doubles and a triple.
 
Neither team could push any runs across as each team squandered chances as the game remained deadlocked. Southeast's Blum made the play of the game on a diving stop that didn't produce an out, but kept the go ahead run on third that gave the Redhawks a chance in the ninth to take the lead.
 
Southeast loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning and Gibson delivered with a two-run single up the middle that put the Redhawks up 8-6. Dalton Hewit added an RBI single to give the Redhawks a 9-6 lead as he extended his hitting streak to nine games.
 
Bobby Hurst (4-4), who gave up a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth frame got three straight outs including a strikeout to give the Redhawks the 9-6 win as he earned the win.
 
Belmont closer Josh Davis (1-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season allowing three runs in the ninth inning.
 
The Bruins were paced offensively by Beaty as he went 3-for-4 with two RBI on the night.
 
The Redhawks advance to the winners bracket to play top seeded Tennessee Tech at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night.