RICHMOND, Ky. – Southeast Missouri (26-28, 20-10) wrapped up the regular season with a series sweep of Eastern Kentucky (27-29, 15-15) when it beat the Colonels, 7-6, 10-9, in a doubleheader Saturday.
SEMO picked up its seventh series win and third sweep this year.
The Redhawks will head to next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament as the #2 seed. SEMO will face the winner of #7 Murray State and #8 Eastern Illinois on Wednesday, May 23 at 4 p.m., CT. This year's event will be held at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama.
SEMO broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the top of the ninth inning to take game one.
The Redhawks scored both of their final runs on bases loaded walks. Peyton Faulkner singled, Trevor Ezell reached on a base hit and Tristen Gagan walked to put Redhawks at every base. Justin Dirden followed with a walk and Faulkner scored. Wade Stauss later drew a two-out walk and Gagan scored to give SEMO a two-run edge.
A two-out double by Chris Botsoe made it a one-run game in the bottom of the ninth, but that was as close as EKU would get.
Left-hander Aaron Stretch (2-2) picked up the win in relief. Stretch gave up one run on four hits in two innings.
Logan Teague (6-6) suffered the loss. Teague allowed two runs and two hits, and did not get an out.
SEMO collected 10 hits with six coming from Danny Wright and Faulkner at the top of the Redhawks order. Both Wright and Faulkner went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Wright also had three RBI.
The Redhawks hit three home runs and scored in every inning of their game two victory. SEMO scored twice in each of the first, third, fourth and sixth frames.
Down, 7-3, EKU put up five runs to take a one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth.
However, Dirden was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Connor Basler scored to tie the game with two outs in the fifth.
SEMO then added two more runs when Basler tripled home Chase Urhahn and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Wright to put the Colonels away.
Joey Burris (2-1) was credited with the win. Burris gave up just one run on two hits in 3.2 innings out of the bullpen.
Andrew McWhorter took the loss.
The Redhawks again reached double-digit hits with 11.
Gagan, Dirden, Alex Canty and Basler paved the way with two apiece. Gagan, Dirden and Canty each homered as well.
The rest of this year's OVC Tournament field includes #1 Tennessee Tech, #3 Morehead State, #4 Jacksonville State, #5 Austin Peay and #6 Eastern Kentucky.
