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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball held a 4-2 lead heading to the ninth inning but the UT Martin Skyhawks tied it to force extra innings. Freshman Trevor Ezell drilled a double into the right center gap in the 12th inning to walk off, 5-4, and secure the three-game sweep of the Skyhawks.
With the sweep, the Redhawks improve to 13-9 on the season and 7-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT Martin falls to 4-16, 2-7 OVC.
This was the Redhawks' first extra-inning game of the 2015 season.
After a scoreless first inning on both ends, the Redhawks plated a trio of runs in the second. With bases full of Redhawks and one out, Ezell drew a walk to drive in the first run of the game. Jason Blum followed with a walk of his own to score another run. Clayton Evans tagged and scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Gandfolo to bring the score to 3-0 after two innings.
UT Martin got on the board with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning by Nick Pribble.
The Skyhawks scored again in the fourth inning to bring the score within one. Mikey Nantze drove Nick Gavello in on an RBI base hit; 3-2 Redhawks after three and a half innings.
Southeast extended the lead in the seventh inning on the third bases-loaded walk of the day to make it 4-2.
Since the second inning, the Redhawks did not have a single hit until Evans hit a two-out double in the eighth.
Matthew Wade entered in the ninth inning to close the game for Southeast but UT Martin had other plans. The Skyhawks made it a one-run game on a one-out base hit by Austin Taylor. The game was tied and Wade's save was blown on a sacrifice fly to right field, 4-4.
The Redhawks had an excellent opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded and one out but failed to capitalize on the situation and sent the game into extra innings.
The Skyhawks loaded the bases in the top of the 12th inning but Greg Mosel entered the game and shut the Skyhawks down to preserve the tie.
Brendon Neel pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the 12th inning and doubled to right center. Branden Boggetto popped up on a bunt attempt for the first out of the inning followed by Evans flying out to right. The batting order rolled over as Ezell stepped in and drove the first pitch he saw into the right center gap to plate Neel and win the game for Southeast, 5-4.
The Redhawks out-hit UT Martin 8-7. The Skyhawks committed two errors.
Evans finished 3-for-6 in the game with one run scored. The game hero, Ezell, was 2-for-5 with two RBI in the contest.
A win is still eluded by Redhawk starter Alex Winkelman. He pitched eight complete innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two. Mosel (2-1) earned the win. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in the 12th.
Andrew Castillo went 3-for-6 for the Skyhawks while Nantze finished with two hits.
Matt Poteete (0-1) suffered the loss in the game. He pitched one and two-thirds, allowing the game-winner and two hits.
The Redhawks will close the four-game home stand Tuesday when Saint Louis University comes to town. First pitch against the Billikens is slated for 6 p.m. from Capaha Field.
