CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Gus Steiger lifted a two-out sacrifice fly to score Phil Velez in the top of the ninth inning as South Dakota State (2-8) edged Southeast Missouri (3-9), 6-5, Sunday in the series finale at Capaha Field.

SDSU, which won the series, used a pair of walks and a hit batsman to set up the game-winning run. Velez also singled in the ninth before scoring the final run.

SEMO again fell behind in the first inning when the Jackrabbits scored four off starting right-hander Christian Vick.

Steiger reached on an infield single to third base, went to second on a base hit by Tony Kjolsing and scored on a double by Nick Smith. Newt Johnson grounded out on the next play and Kjolsking scored. Anthony Schneider later delivered a run-scoring double and Velez grounded out to score Josh Falk for the other run putting SDSU ahead, 4-0. 

Schneider flied out to right field and Johnson scored to push the Jackrabbits lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth.

SEMO sent nine hitters to the plate and cut SDSU's lead to two when Tristen Gagan blasted a three-run home run to left field. Chase Urhahn walked and Trevor Ezell singled before Gagan hit his third home run of the season.

The Redhawks added one more run in the bottom of the seventh when pinch-hitter Wade Stauss brought home Urhahn on a sacrifice fly. 

SEMO then tied things up at 5-5 on Ezell's infield single in the bottom of the eighth. Peyton Faulkner, who was at second base by way of a wild pitch, tried to score the go-ahead run on that play, but was thrown out at home plate.

Reliever Austin Suhr (1-2) recorded two strikeouts and a groundball out to retire the Redhawks in order in the bottom of the ninth. 

Otis Roby was strong through 5.2 innings for the Jackrabbits, striking out seven and walking two.

After Vick's rocky start, he settled down to retire 14 of his final 17 hitters. Vick struck out six and walked one while allowing five runs on five hits through five innings. He threw 97 pitches.

Left-hander Daniel Bergtholdt (0-3) was charged with the loss. Bergtholdt sturck out two, walked one, gave up a run and scattered two hits in 3.1 innings.

SEMO outhit SDSU, 11-7, with Ezell going 4-for-5 with a run scored and one RBI to lead the way. Gagan followed at 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI.

The Redhawks return to action when they host regional rival Southern Illinois on Mar. 6. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., CT. That game marks the first free tailgate of the season.