NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (22-26, 7-13) held a lead on three occasions, but came up short in a 6-5 loss to Belmont (31-20, 7-12) Monday.
 
SEMO split its doubleheader with Belmont after staying an extra day in Nashville to complete the games due to inclement weather.
 
Chelsey Deloney's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning was the difference in a back-and-forth battle that featured five lead changes. Deloney fell behind 0-2 in the count before driving Mackenzie Hoelting's offering over the right field wall immediately after Lexi Rouse singled.
 
Deloney's homer answered a solo shot to center by Rachel Anderson in the top half of the inning, which at the time gave the Redhawks a 5-4 edge. For Anderson, her team-high seventh round-tripper of the season pushed her hitting streak to nine games.
 
SEMO struck first with the help of two errors in the top of the first inning. Mykaela Arellanes scored when Darby Pruett reached on an error and Ashley Ellis later knocked in Anderson to give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
 
After scoring once during its at-bat in the first, Belmont took its first lead at 3-2 on a two-run home run by Jordan Spicer in the second.
 
SEMO regained the lead in the top of the third when Pruett drove in Anderson on a single to left and Ellis scored Parker Bandy on a sacrifice fly.
 
Belmont loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth and came away with one run to tie the game at 4-4 on an infield single by Baylee Cook.
 
Madison Harris drew a two-out walk and represented the tying run in the top of the sixth, but Rouse retired the next four Redhawk hitters to nail down the win.
 
Rouse (8-8) allowed just one hit and struck out five in four innings out of the bullpen.
 
Hoelting (2-6) suffered the loss giving up six hits and three runs in two innings of relief.
 
The Redhawks had five hits, including one each by Arellanes, Anderson, Pruett, Ellis and Claudia Gallo.
 
Spicer finished at 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs to lead the Bruins.
 
With two more games left, SEMO is still alive in the conference tournament race. The Redhawks (7-13, .350) are battling Morehead State (6-10, .375) and Belmont (7-12, .368) for the eighth spot.
 
SEMO wraps up its regular-season with a doubleheader at UT Martin Saturday.