OXFORD, Ala. – Southeast Missouri (11-5) erased a six-run deficit, but came up on the short end of an 8-6 loss to Horizon League member Valparaiso (7-3) Friday at the Leon Smith Classic.
 
Valpo plated two runs in the top of the first inning when Carly Trepanier scored on a wild pitch and Jaymee Lawton singled home Sam Stewart to grab an early advantage.
 
With one out and the bases loaded, Stewart blasted a grand slam over the left field wall to push the Crusaders lead to 6-0. Stewart's smash knocked SEMO starting pitcher Alexis Estes out of the game.
 
The Redhawks started to chip away at Valpo's lead, adding a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning. Addison Barnouski drove in Mykaela Arellanes on a single to center and Rachel Anderson, who reached on a base hit, came around to score on an error.
 
Darby Pruett stepped in and smacked a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Pruett's first round-tripper of the season made it a 6-4 ballgame.
 
Another two-run bomb, this time by Parker Bandy, cleared the center field fence and tied the game at 6-6 in the fifth.
 
Valpo, however, capitalized on an error to push across two unearned runs in the top of the seventh. Lawton was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was out at second when Gabby Magnifico hit into a fielder's choice. Morgan Matalin reached on a fielder's choice and Magnifico was safe at second after shortstop Sara Messex's throw slipped past Bandy. With two away after Matalin was out at third on Lanie Callaghan's fielder's choice, Carly Trepanier ripped a double to left center putting the Crusaders ahead, 8-6.
 
SEMO had runners on second and third with two outs in its last at-bat before Mackenzie Grossmann got Claire Wernig to ground out.
 
Grossmann (3-2) picked up the win in relief after giving up two hits and striking out three in three scoreless innings.
 
Mackenzie Hoelting (0-1) worked 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits. Hoelting also struck out three and did not give up a walk.
 
Messex led SEMO with two hits, while seven others followed with one apiece.
 
Trepanier went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, while Jenna Stauffenberg and Matalin contributed two hits each. Callaghan and Stewart scored twice for the Crusaders, as well.
 
Valpo collected 11 hits for the game.
 
SEMO resumes play at the Leon Smith Classic against Alabama A&M at 3:30 p.m., CT, Saturday.