CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Jessica Wireman recorded nine strikeouts and picked up two wins to lead Eastern Illinois (19-15, 5-1) to a 7-5, 4-1, doubleheader sweep of Southeast Missouri (15-16, 0-6) Saturday at the Southeast Softball Complex.
 
SEMO, which hosted EIU in its home-opener, struggled to solve Wireman ever since she entered game one out the bullpen in the third inning.
 
Wireman took over for starter Michelle Rogers and stymied SEMO for the final five innings. She struck out six, allowed just one run and scattered five hits in that span.
 
Down, 4-1, EIU tied things up when Ashlynne Paul hit a three-run home run to left field out of the nine-hole. Paul's home run came with two outs after a strikeout and error.
 
The Panthers took their first lead when Kiley Pelker was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. Katie Grunert scored the go-ahead run to put EIU ahead, 5-4.
 
EIU added to its lead with two more runs in the top of the seventh inning. Mady Poulter touched home on a wild pitch and Pelker scored an unearned run with the help of another SEMO mishap to grab the Panthers a 7-4 advantage.
 
Darby Pruett delivered a two-out RBI-single to score Madison Harris in the bottom of the seventh, but that was as close as the Redhawks would get.
 
Madeline Krumrey fell to 9-5 this season. Krumrey gave up eight hits and five runs, while striking out two and walking two in 4.2 innings.
 
Rachel Anderson went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double to lead SEMO, which had 10 hits.
 
Wireman started inside the circle and picked up right where she left off in the nightcap.
 
Working with a 3-0 lead, Wireman tossed four no-hit innings before allowing her first hit, a leadoff single to Pruett in the fifth. Wireman sat down 10-straight SEMO hitters before Pruett's hit.
 
Offensively, EIU scored once in the first and pushed across a pair of unearned runs on two SEMO errors in the third to get Wireman an early lead. The Panthers added one more tally on double by Kayla Bear in the top of the seventh.
 
SEMO avoided the shutout when Pruett knocked in Anderson on a one-out double during the Redhawks final at-bat. Riley Hayes represented the tying run at the plate when SEMO had runners on second and third, but flied out to left field to end the game.
 
Alexis Estes (5-4) suffered the complete game loss. Estes allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out three.
 
Wireman evened her record to 9-9 this year.
 
Defensively, SEMO committed five errors in the doubleheader. Shortstop Sarah Messex had three of the miscues.
 
The Redhawks have lost nine in a row and 11 of their last 12 contests.
 
They return to action when they head to SEC member Missouri for a doubleheader on Apr. 5.