CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri baseball (9-7, 2-3) won a thriller at Capaha Field Saturday against UT Martin (7-9, 0-5) by a final score of 5-4.
 
With the win, the Redhawks clinch their first OVC series victory of the season.
 
Southeast jumped out to a 3-0 lead but UT Martin slowed down the Redhawk offense and began chipping away at the lead, eventually tying the contest. A two-run blow in the eighth inning by Chris Osborne pushed across the winning runs for the Redhawks.
 
Southeast was outhit in the contest, 10-7. Osborne was the lone Redhawk with multiple hits, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Redhawk starter Justin Murphy suffered a no decision, working only four and a third innings in the start. He allowed two runs on seven hits. Matthew Wade (2-0) picked up his second win of the week pitching the final two innings out of the pen. Jared Waldhoff and Carlos Vega each pitched one and a third innings in relief.
 
Dalton Westfall (2-2) recorded the loss for the Skyhawks. Westfall worked seven complete innings, was responsible for all five Redhawk runs, struck out six, and walked eight.
 
The Redhawks loaded the bases to begin the bottom of the first inning. Tristen Gagan drove in the first run of the game drawing a bases-loaded walk. Brian Lees followed with a bounding base hit through the left side to widen the early lead to 2-0.
 
Much like the first inning, the Redhawks loaded the bases to begin the second inning. Dan Holst flew out to centerfield, allowing Connor Basler to tag up and add to the lead, 3-0.
 
Josh Hauser put the Skyhawks on the board in the top of the third inning with a leadoff home run blasted to left field.
 
UT Martin made it a one-run game in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single up the middle by Dan Kerwin, 3-2 Redhawks.
 
It became a whole new ballgame in the top of the seventh inning. Connor Aube singled to begin the inning, moved to second on a sac bunt and then to third on a wild pitch. He scored to tie the game on an RBI fielder's choice by Ryan Wessling.
 
Southeast was held hitless from the fourth to the eighth inning.
 
With bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the eighth, Osborne broke the 3-3 tie with a two-RBI base hit poked through the right side, putting SEMO back on top 5-3 going to the ninth inning.
 
The Skyhawks made it interesting in the top of the ninth inning. With two out, Wade issued a walk to Tyler Albright then hit Tanner Wessling for a couple baserunners. Pinch hitter Robert Worley singled up the middle to score Albright and cut the lead to one. A fielder's choice ended the game, stranding the tying run 90 feet away.
 
Creighton Eldridge and Aube finished with two hits each for the Skyhawks.
 
Southeast Missouri will go for the sweep of UT Martin on Sunday at 1 p.m. Robert Beltran will get the start on the mound for Southeast.