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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Joey Lucchesi pitched seven scoreless innings and only allowed two hits and struck out 11 in Southeast Missouri's 10-0 shutout of SIUE Saturday afternoon. With the win, Southeast forces a rubber game with the Cougars Sunday.

Southeast improves to 16-10 on the season and 8-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play. SIUE falls to 9-12, 9-2 OVC.

The Redhawks ended an 11-inning scoreless drought dating back to game one in the fifth inning with a three-spot against the Cougars. Scott Mitchell reached on an error by the third baseman. Branden Boggetto singled but was forced out on a fielder's choice, allowing Clayton Evans to reach. Mitchell scored on an infield single by Trevor Ezell to snap the scoreless streak. The Redhawks appeared to be out of the inning with a high pop up to center by Jason Blum but the centerfielder dropped the ball, allowing two runs to score and putting Southeast up 3-0 in the fifth.

Ryan Rippee led off the sixth inning with his first triple of the season. He came home on a single by Dalton Hewitt. Brendon Neel doubled down the left field line to plate Hewitt from first and extend the lead to 5-0.

Southeast extended the lead to 6-0 in the seventh inning when Blum scored on a double in the left center gap by Garrett Gandolfo. 

The Redhawks put up a four-spot in the eighth inning to increase the lead to double digits. With bases loaded, Neel scored on a throwing error by the catcher trying to pick him off at third. Boggetto scored on a groundout by Ezell. Blum then doubled to plate Evans. After an SIUE pitching change, Blum touched home on a base hit by Gandolfo to bring the score to 10-0.

Lucchesi improves to 4-0 on the season and has picked up the four wins in four-straight starts. Brady Wright and Ryan Lenaburg each pitched an inning in relief to combine with Lucchesi for the shutout.

Three Redhawks (Gandolfo, Hewitt, Mitchell) had two hits each in the game. Southeast had 12 total hits in the game.

PJ Schuster (3-1) suffered the loss. He allowed five runs on eight hits. He struck out five Redhawk batters and walked one. Schuster pitched four scoreless innings to start the game.

The game time for game three has been moved to 11 a.m. Sunday due to forecasted rain in the afternoon. Alex Winkelman and Jarrett Bednar will get the starts on the mound.