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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Garret Stockton was stellar through six innings Tuesday evening but a two-run seventh was enough for the No. 20 Missouri State Bears to down Southeast Missouri, 2-1.

Southeast falls to 19-13 while the Bears climb to 21-8 on the season.

Stockton pitched six scoreless innings before allowing the go-ahead runs to reach base in the seventh. He struck out four hitters and surrendered five hits in the outing.

After three scoreless innings on both sides, the Redhawks touched home first in the fourth inning. Andy Lennington drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a groundout. Branden Boggetto hit a slow, infield dribbler that he beat out at first, allowing Lennington to score and putting Southeast on the board, 1-0.

Back-to-back one-out doubles tied the game at a run apiece in the seventh inning. Alex Siddle came in to pitch and immediately threw a wild pitch, allowing the go-ahead run to reach third. A base hit up the middle by Jake Burger plated the eventual game-winning run, 2-1 Missouri State.

MSU's typical weekend ace, Matt Hall, came in to shut down the Redhawk offense in the eighth and ninth innings, securing the win for the Bears. Hall struck out four of the six batters he faced to close the game.

Southeast narrowly outhit the Bears, 7-6, but left six runners on base. Trevor Ezell had a pair of hits in the game, going 2-for-4.

Stockton would suffer the loss and is now 1-1 on the season.

Missouri State's Matt Fultz and Burger each had two hits for the Bears.

Zach Merciez (2-2) picked up the win in relief Tuesday. Hall earned his first save of the season after pitching two innings to close the game.

The Redhawks return to action in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend at Eastern Illinois. The series will open at 3 p.m. Friday from Charleston, Illinois.