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CAPE GIRARDEA, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri baseball team improved to 6-2 on the season, extended their winning streak to four games, and earned a three-game sweep of IPFW (2-5) Sunday with a 6-4 victory over the Mastodons.
 
"We had good production today by our entire lineup, especially from the bottom part," said head coach Steve Bieser. "You know you have a quality lineup when you can take it and flip it upside down and still produce. We also had excellent two-out production, not just today, but all weekend."
 
IPFW took a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza when the leadoff batter of the game came around to score after reaching on an error.
 
Andy Lack used an RBI double in the second inning, scoring Scott Mitchell and tying the game.
 
The Mastodons were quick to retake the lead in the top of the next inning. IPFW scored their second unearned run of the game on when Brandon Soat scored on the second Redhawk error of the day.
 
With two out in the fourth inning, the Redhawks took their first lead of the day. Mitchell extended the inning after reaching on an error by the first baseman. Andy Lack singled, followed by a double off the bat of Clayton Evans, scoring both runners and taking the lead. Jason Blum drove in one more run when he scored Evans with an RBI single, putting Southeast up 4-2.
 
IPFW tied the game in the top half of the fifth inning. Redhawk starter Ryan Lenaburg faced two batters in the inning but was pulled after allowing the first two batters to reach. Travis Hayes was brought in to relieve Lenaburg. Hayes' defense was able to get the lead runner out as Hayes fanned the second out. Kristian Gayday singled to score one run, bringing IPFW within a run. Steve Lowden immediately followed with an RBI single of his own, driving in the tying run.
 
Southeast once again retook the lead with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the fifth. After Derek Gibson drew a one-out walk and advanced on a wild pitch, Andy Lennington singled down the right field line, scoring Gibson. Lennington took second on another Mastodon wild pitch and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Dalton Hewitt, putting the Redhawks back out in front by two runs again.
 
The Redhawk's bullpen, looking sharp once again, was able to hold the Mastodons to just four runs in the contest. Hayes, despite allowing two runs to cross the plate, which were not charged to him, picked up his first win in a Redhawk uniform. Skylar Cobb saw two innings on the mound, allowing only two hits. Brady Wright worked only one inning Sunday, only needing six pitches in the eighth inning. Garret Stockton picked up his fourth save, third of the week, after closing out the game for the Redhawks in the ninth. 
 
Bieser added: "We know Brady has closer experience and he was quick with quality pitches today but Garret is really starting to settle in as our closer so we wanted to get him that extra work."
 
Offensively, every Redhawk in the lineup recorded at least a hit. Lack went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI and a run scored while Evans drove in two runs of his own with a run scored.
 
"No one is satisfied right now despite having a good start to the season," Bieser said. "We will continue to get better in all aspects of our game. We have stiff competition coming up; we can't let our guard down."
 
IPFW reliever Nate White suffered the loss in the game.
 
Soat had a 3-for-4 performance for the Mastodons Sunday while Gayday was 2-for-4.
 
Southeast Missouri will kick off a four-game road swing Tuesday at Arkansas State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. from Jonesboro, Ark.