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MARTIN, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri won their Ohio Valley Conference series over the UT Martin Skyhawks (3-21, 2-9 OVC) Saturday evening with a 9-3 victory in game two of the series. A combination of power offense and stellar pitching allowed the Redhawks to once again power past the Skyhawks en route to the series win. Southeast improves to 16-10 overall, 9-2 in OVC play.
 
After SIUE lost to Tennessee Tech earlier in the day, the Redhawk win Saturday gives Southeast Missouri sole possession of first place in the league.  
 
"Ryan Lenaburg was the difference maker for us in the game. He came out and pitched really well this evening," said head coach Steve Bieser. "We had one play that we make 99 times out of a hundred that allowed the Skyhawks to put runs on the board.
 
"It feels good to be on top of the standings. Our goal every game is to come out and play the best game we can play. We know when we do that, the rest will take care of itself."
 
In the third inning with Jason Blum and Matt Tellor on with two out, Derek Gibson took a first pitch off his back to load the bases for Andy Lennington. Lennington then ripped a double down the left field line that rattled around in the corner, clearing the bases, and giving the Redhawks a 3-0 lead.
 
Costly errors by the Skyhawks in the fifth inning allowed the Redhawks to put up a four-spot in the frame. Cole Bieser led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Tellor then singled to put two runners on with no out. Gibson laid down a bunt for a hit to load the bases. UT Martin then went to the bullpen and brought in Alex Boshers to face Lennington with bases loaded and no out. Bieser was forced out at the plate on a slow-roller to first off the bat of Lennington. Scott Mitchell then reached on the first Skyhawk error of the inning, allowing Tellor to score on the play. Cole Ferguson then drew a bases-loaded walk to force Gibson across the plate. Dalton Hewitt struck out for the second out of the inning. Andy Lack then hit a ball to third that was bobbled a little by the third baseman, who then threw the ball away on the throw over to first. Two more Redhawks scored on the hit and error by Lack. Southeast led the Skyhawks 7-0 after the top of the fifth inning.
 
With Skyhawks on first and second in the bottom of the inning, an error by Lack, his second of the game, loaded the bases with two out. Taylor Douglas ripped a double to left center to clear the bases for the Skyhawks' first runs of the series and pull within four runs of Southeast, 7-3, going to the sixth inning.
 
The Redhawks extended the lead in the eighth inning with a two-out, two-RBI double off the wall by Tellor to put the Redhawks ahead 9-3.
 
Southeast outhit the Skyhawks 10-7 in the game. Blum, Tellor, Gibson, and Lack all recorded two hits in the contest. Lennington finished with three RBI while Tellor closed the game with two of his own. Tellor now has six RBI in the series thus far.
 
Lenaburg (3-2) went seven innings, giving up three runs, all unearned, on five hits. Lenaburg struck out three batters and walked three. Christian Hull and Brady Wright each worked a scoreless inning Saturday.
 
For the Skyhawks, Douglas was the only hitter for UT Martin with a multiple hit performance after going 3-for-5 with three RBI.
 
UTM starter Dalton Potts (0-4) recorded the loss. Potts worked four innings, giving up six runs, five earned, on six hits. Potts did strike out five Redhawk batters and walked two.
 
Southeast Missouri will go for the sweep of the Skyhawks Sunday at 1 p.m. Alex Winkelman will have the ball to start the game for Southeast after Travis Hayes was scratched from the rotation due to a strain in his left side.
 
The game can be heard live on ESPN 1220 AM. Also, the final game of the series will no longer be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network.