Box Score  – (PDF)
 
TULSA, Okla. – A four-run first inning set the tone for Southeast Missouri (1-0) baseball in the 2014 season-opening victory over the Oral Roberts (0-1) Golden Eagles Friday evening. Southeast grounded the Golden Eagles 10-4 in the season opener.
 
"This is exactly how we'd like to start the new season off; get some runs early and let our pitcher settle in to get the ball rolling," said Steve Bieser. "We have good, experienced guys on the offense and we knew it'd be a good day."
 
Southeast Missouri started the game in a big way to kick off the 2014 season. Cole Bieser drew a one-out walk to get speed on the bases for the Redhawks. Matt Tellor recorded the Redhawks' first hit of the season to put two runners on. With two out, Andy Lennington ripped a double down the left field line to drive in Bieser for the first run of the season. With bases loaded, newcomer Scott Mitchell threaded a single through the right side to drive in Tellor and Lennington. Dalton Hewitt scored from third on a passed ball to put Southeast on top, 4-0, after the first inning.
 
"Scotty saw what he likes and he used that to drive in really important runs early in the game. He is a good offensive guy and I look forward to seeing what he can do for us in a Redhawk uniform."
 
The Golden Eagles returned the favor and put starting pitcher Tyler Iago in an early jam. With two runners on, Anthony Sequeria reached on a hit and an error, driving in ORU's first run of the season. With runners on first and third, Iago got Tyler Boss to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and stay out in front 4-1.
 
After both teams went three up, three down in the second inning, Tellor and Gibson each singled to get Southeast on base in the top of the third. Lennington hit a high, fly ball that one-hopped the left field wall to drive in Tellor and give Southeast a 5-1 lead.
 
Matt Brandy ripped an RBI double to right-center field to score Emmanuel Forcier from first base and narrow the Redhawk lead to three runs in the fifth inning, 5-2 Redhawks.
 
Southeast used aggressive base running in the top of the sixth to help extend their lead. Hewitt drew a lead-off walk, forcing ORU to pull their starting pitcher, Kurt Giller. With the hit and run on, Mitchell hit a rocket past the third baseman to advance Hewitt to third. With the hit and run on again, Andy Lack fooled the second baseman to reach on a single and bring Hewitt home and extend the lead to 6-2. With bases loaded, two out, and Tellor at the plate, Tellor drew a base-on-balls to widen the lead to 7-2.
 
Southeast pulled Iago after a stellar first outing going into the bottom of the seventh. Alex Winkelman came in, walked the lead-off hitter, then proceeded to hit the next three batters, driving in ORU's third run. With bases still loaded and Greg Mosel pitching with one out, Sequeria hit an RBI single to short, just beating out the throw from Lack. With bases still loaded, Mosel pitched out of the jam by way of a strikeout and fly-out.
 
"Greg came into the game in a jam and he was phenomenal. He will be a great late-inning guy for us this season. It was huge for him to get us out of that situation. He deserves the game ball today."
 
In the top of the eighth with a runner on, Bieser hit a double just fair down the left field line to score Clayton Evans. Oral Roberts then put Tellor on with two out to pitch to Gibson. Gibson flew out to right to end the inning, 8-4 Southeast Missouri.
 
The Redhawks added two more runs in the top of the ninth on a 2-RBI single from Evans, 10-4 Redhawks.
 
Brady Wright came in to close out the season-opening win for Southeast.
 
Southeast Missouri finished the day out-hitting ORU 14-12.
 
Tellor finished 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, and two runs scored. Lennington also recorded three hits in five at-bats with two RBI. Every hitter in the lineup walked away with at least one hit Friday evening with six recording one or more RBI.
 
Bieser added, "Matt was hitting the ball hard today and looked excellent for us. Andy also looked solid for us and this was a great way to get his season started, both at the plate and in the field."
 
For the Golden Eagles, Forcier went 3-for-3 with two runs scored while three others recorded two hits.
 
Iago (1-0) earned his first Division I win in 6.0 innings of work, giving up two runs on nine hits, striking out four batters, and walking none. Mosel pitched 2.0 innings while only giving up two hits. Wright gave up one hit and struck out two batters he faced.
 
"Tyler is a very cool and calm pitcher who never panicked in the game. He certainly knows how to get out of sticky situations."
 
Giller (0-1) suffered the loss for Oral Roberts.
 
Game two is slated to begin at 2 p.m. from Tulsa Saturday. Christian Hull will be on the mound for Southeast after returning to the pitching staff after sitting out the 2013 season.