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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Southeast Missouri baseball team put up a valiant effort against Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas Tuesday evening. The Redhawks never trailed in the game until the Razorbacks hit a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to down the Redhawks, 4-3.
 
Garret Stockton was phenomenal in his third start of the season, going a career-best six innings and struck out a career-high five batters. He left the game with a 3-1 lead but would suffer a no decision.
 
"Garret was a huge positive for us in this game. I'm not only happy with the results but I am very happy with how he competed and really battled on the mound. He did an outstanding job facing SEC hitters. We took him to the max this evening," said head coach Steve Bieser.
 
Southeast falls back to .500 at 9-9 on the season while Arkansas improves to 10-8.
 
Trevor Ezell extended his on base streak to 18 games after drawing a four-pitch walk to start the game. He advanced to second on a groundout by Jason Blum and scored on a two-out base hit to right by Dalton Hewitt to put Southeast on the board 1-0.
 
Arkansas immediately tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Clark Eagan drew a leadoff walk. Andrew Benintendi hit a one-out double sharply down the left field line. Eagen tried to score but was easily out at the plate after a terrific relay from Ezell and Brandon Boggetto. Benintendi advanced to third on the play and then scored on a double by Chad Spanberger, younger brother of Southeast's Cody Spanberger. After one inning, the Redhawks and Razorbacks were tied at one.
 
The tie was finally broken after four scoreless innings and it was in favor of the Redhawks. Arkansas brought in their first relief pitcher of the game to start the inning and Ezell greeted him with a base hit to right to lead off the inning. The shortstop botched a routine double play off the bat of Blum to put runners on first and second with no out. Garrett Gandolfo poked a single up the middle to score Ezell and give Southeast the lead. After a pair of strikeouts, Andy Lennington added to the lead with an RBI single past a diving third baseman to plate Blum and extend the lead to 3-1.
 
Wesley Pyles came in to pitch for Southeast to start the seventh inning and walked two straight batters. Brady Wright came in and inherited runners on second and third, no out, and a 3-1 count on Benintendi. Benintendi hit a blooper just beyond third base to score both runners and tie the game. Wright retired the next three batters to keep it all knotted at 3-3 going to the eighth.
 
The Redhawks had a superb opportunity to score in the top of the ninth but failed to do so to keep the game all tied up going to the bottom of the inning.
 
A one-out single allowed the winning run to reach in the bottom of the ninth. Matthew Wade entered the game with a 2-0 count on Benintendi who drew a walk. Spanberger then drilled a line drive through the right side, deep enough to score the winning run and walk-off, 4-3.
 
The Redhawks were out-hit 8-5 in the contest but Arkansas had two errors.
 
Lennington was the lone Redhawks with a two-hit game while also driving in a run.
 
Wright (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing the winning run to reach in the ninth. Wright was otherwise stellar on the mound, pitching two and a third innings, allowing the one run on two hits. Stockton went six innings, allowing one run on five hits. He fanned five and walked three.
 
Benintendi and Spanberger each had two hits and two RBI in the game.
 
Jacob Stone (1-2) picked up the win for Arkansas. He pitched one inning in relief. Razorback starter Keaton McKinney pitched five innings, allowing one run on only one hit. He struck out three and walked three. The Redhawks pegged Lance Phillips for two runs on three hits. He struck out four Redhawks.
 
The Redhawks and Razorbacks are slated to play game two of the series Wednesday at 3:05 p.m. but there is rain in the forecast.