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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri baseball opened the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference season Friday with an 11-1 victory over Belmont (6-7, 0-1 OVC). Southeast improves to 7-6 on the season and 1-0 in OVC play.
 
The Redhawks were firing on all cylinders Friday evening as the offense, defense, and pitching were all on point in the contest. 
 
"We played a full game tonight," said head coach Steve Bieser. "We didn't take a lead then sit back and relax. We also had really good defense; the ball just seemed to hop our way and we got some pretty good breaks. It was a good way to kick off OVC play."
 
The Redhawks were the designated home team as the series was originally scheduled to take place in Cape Girardeau but was moved due to undesirable field conditions.
 
Southeast stepped out with a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With bases loaded, Derek Gibson grounded into a double play but got a run across to put Southeast on the board. With Cole Bieser on third, Matt Tellor followed it up with an RBI single up the middle to go ahead 2-0.
 
Belmont scored their lone run in the top of the second inning on an RBI double by Tyler Walsh.
 
The Redhawks took the run back in the bottom of the inning when Scott Mitchell scored on an RBI single from Bieser; 3-1 Redhawks.
 
Southeast put another two runs on the board in the fifth inning, first on a bases-loaded groundout by Tellor then by a Mitchell RBI to put Southeast up 5-1.
 
The Redhawks kept the offense going late into the game as they scored three runs in each the seventh and eighth innings. Andy Lack came in to pinch hit in the seventh and posted three RBI in just two at-bats in the late innings, heavily contributing to the conference-opening victory.
 
In the field Friday evening, Andy Lennington, Clayton Evans, Bieser, and Mitchell all made terrific plays in the game to steal hits, and most likely runs, away from the Bruins.
 
Mitchell and Lennington both had three hits Friday evening with Dalton Hewitt adding two as Southeast outhit Belmont 13-5. Tellor and Mitchell also had two RBI in the contest.
 
On the mound, Tyler Iago (3-1) looked sharp in his fourth start, going 6.0 innings. Iago struck out two batters, walked only one, but hit four batters. Christian Hull pitched 3.0 hitless innings in relief. Hull struck out five batters but also walked five.
 
"Tyler had pretty decent stuff tonight," said Bieser. "Tyler wasn't on his best but he still got the job done and really set a tone for us early. He's one of those guys who just has it."
 
Belmont's starter and ace, Austin Coley (1-1), suffered the loss after pitching 4.0 innings. Coley gave up five runs on six hits while also striking out three Redhawk batters.
 
Southeast Missouri and Belmont will go head-to-head in game two Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Nashville. Ryan Lenaburg will toe the rubber for the Redhawks.