CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (5-11, 2-1) clinched its first series victory of the season when it split a doubleheader with Morehead State (7-8, 1-2) Saturday. The Redhawks won game one, 10-3, and dropped the nightcap, 8-4.
 
SEMO posted a series win against MSU for the second time in three years and claimed its 17^th series victory all-time during the opening weekend of Ohio Valley Conference play.
 
The Redhawks pounded out a season-high 14 hits en route to their game one win.
 
Ahead, 2-1, SEMO erupted for seven runs on six hits to storm past the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Chase Urhahn sparked a two-out rally with a single up the middle. Trevor Ezell and Tristen Gagan each followed with a single to load the bases. Devon Wilson was then hit by a pitch and Urhahn scored. On the next play Justin Dirden cleared the bases with a triple to left center. Cole Bornhop singled home Dirden after that. Then, Alex Nielsen hit his first career home run to cap the outburst as the Redhawks took a 9-1 lead.
 
The Redhawks added one more run on a single by Gagan in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Christian Vick (2-1) picked up the win. Vick allowed just one run in five innings. He also struck out one and allowed seven hits.
 
Dalton Stambaugh (2-2) took the loss. Stambaugh gave up 10 hits and nine runs, while striking out five and walking one in five innings.
 
Defensively, MSU committed four errors.
 
The top four hitters in SEMO's lineup, consisting of Peyton Faulkner, Urhahn, Ezell and Gagan combined for 10 of the 14 hits. Ezell went 4-for-4 with a run scored to lead the way. Gagan finished at 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Urhahn scored three runs. Dirden contributed two hits and four RBI.
 
In game two, SEMO took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when a sacrifice fly by Gagan and RBI-double by Dirden made it 2-0.
 
MSU answered with seven runs over the third, fourth and fifth innings to pull away from the Redhawks.
 
A RBI-triple by Tyler Niemann and sacrifice fly by Morris helped the Eagles tie the game at 2-2 in the third.
 
Hunter Fain hit a three-run home run in the fourth and Trevor Snyder belted a two-run homer in the fifth as MSU never looked back.
 
Jake Ziegelmeyer (2-0) struck out seven and walked one in seven innings to get the win. Ziegelmeyer scattered nine hits and allowed four runs, as well.
 
Aaron Stretch (0-1) fell to his first loss of the season in relief. Stretch allowed three runs on three hits in one inning. He replaced Ashton Holyfield, who struck out three in three innings during his first career weekend start.
 
Gagan led the Redhawks with three RBI, while Wilson and Nielsen had two hits apiece.
 
Gagan (.571), Ezell (.500) and Dirden (.500) all hit .500 or better in the twin bill.
 
SEMO heads to Central Arkansas for a two-game midweek series during its spring break on Mar. 13-14.