CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri (23-27, 17-10) scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to send the game to extra innings, but came up short in a 10-6 loss to Belmont (17-34, 12-19) Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field.
Devon Wilson, who scored the game-winning run to beat Belmont Saturday, delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game when the Redhawks were down to their final out in the ninth.
SEMO trailed 6-1 heading into its final at-bat when it mounted its ferocious rally to send the game to extra innings.
Wade Stauss led things off with a single to right and went to second on a single by Chase Urhahn. With one out following a fielder's choice, Danny Wright knocked in both Stauss and Urhahn on a ground-rule double. Wright later touched home when Tristen Gagan doubled down the left field line. Wilson's game-tying hit came immediately after a walk by Justin Dirden on the first pitch of his at-bat. The Redhawks had five hits in their huge ninth inning.
Belmont quickly answered in the top of the 10th. Michael Matter reached on an infield single and went to second on a two-out walk by Chase Hadden. On the next play, Matt Cogen belted a single down the left field line and Matter scored. Another RBI-hit, this time by Zach Ehrhart, scored Hadden. A single by Austin Reynolds and an error led to two more runs as the Bruins pulled ahead, 10-6.
Trevor Ezell got the Redhawks going late when he launched a solo home run with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, his fourth of the season.
Kyle Conger hit a grand slam in the top of the sixth inning and Belmont held a six-run lead until Ezell's round-tripper.
Kyle Brennan picked up the win out of Belmont's bullpen. Brennan struck out one, walked three and allowed three runs on four hits in two innings.
Casey Queener struck out nine and walked two in eight innings before giving way to Brennan in the ninth. Queener scattered eight hits and gave up three runs, as well.
Logan Windler (1-2) suffered the loss. Windler walked one and allowed one hit in one-third of an inning. Windler was one of seven pitchers who took the mound for SEMO.
Both teams combined for 25 hits and 24 runners left on base. The Bruins outhit SEMO, 13-12.
SEMO was led by Gagan, Dirden, Wilson and Urhahn who finished with two hits each.
The Redhawks travel to Georgia Tech for their final midweek game of the season Tuesday.
