CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball (5-4) picked up a shutout victory over Central Arkansas (5-5) in Friday's home opener, 6-0. Coming off seven perfect innings a week ago, left-handed pitcher Joey Lucchesi tossed seven scoreless innings Friday at Capaha Field.

Lucchesi (2-1) had a tough start with four walks and no strikeouts in the first two innings but settled in and completed a seven-inning scoreless outing with nine strikeouts in his final five innings.

Lucchesi exited to start the eighth inning after 119 pitches. Justin Murphy came in and completed the shutout with two hitless, scoreless innings, en route to his second save of the season.

"I put a challenge up to the team yesterday and I thought they stepped up tonight," head coach Steve Bieser said. "I think we played seven innings of really solid baseball and that's something we haven't really seen this season. Our team came out and played the game how it is supposed to be play. It was frustrating with hitting into a couple double plays and facing a good arm and you worry about getting enough runs to win the game. The fact we didn't let up and still played hard with a 2-0 lead was an improvement of this team."

Bieser commented on his pitching staff's performance, "Joey had a tough time gripping the ball and so did their starter. Neither of those guys are the type of pitcher to go out and walk five guys in an outing. They both competed really well and Joey did an outstanding job. We've been very pleased with Justin. He has the potential to be one of our starters or step in and fill a closer positon. With his stuff, he has a good shot at being our closer."

For the fifth time this season, the Redhawks scored first. The Redhawks had Dan Holst and Trevor Ezell on the corners with one out in the first inning. The Redhawks successfully executed the delayed steal as Holst took second and Ezell swiped home. After one inning, the Redhawks led 1-0.

Ryan Rippee led off the second inning with a solo home run to right field, widening the lead to 2-0 on the Bears.

Southeast's narrow 2-0 lead held until the bottom of the eighth inning. The Redhawks put up a four spot in the frame. Back-to-back walks to Andy Lack and Brian Lees put two on with one out. Daniel Costello doubled down the left field line to drive in Lack. Following a ground out by Ezell, Holst knocked a double of his own to left to drive in Lees and Costello. Branden Boggetto switched places with Holst with the third double of the inning, stretching the lead to 6-0 heading into the ninth.

Holst and Boggetto led the way for the offense with two hits apiece in the contest. Six other Redhawks each had one hit as Southeast finished with 10 hits in the game.

Central Arkansas was held to five hits with no Bear hitters recording multiple hits.

UCA starter Connor Gilmore (1-2) picked up the loss after allowing two runs in five and and two-thirds innings. The Bears used two relief pitchers in the game.

Game two of the series will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. Clay Chandler (1-0) will make his third start of the season on the mound for the Redhawks.