OXFORD, Ala. - First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference right-hander Carlos Vega recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts in a masterful pitching performance as #2 Southeast Missouri (27-28) defeated #7 Murray State (27-28), 5-2, Wednesday at Choccolocco Park.
In his first career OVC Tournament start, Vega allowed six hits and fell just two outs shy of a complete game. He retired the first six hitters he faced and sat the Racers down in order in three innings.
SEMO grabbed an early lead when it scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first.
Peyton Faulkner reached on a one-out single and went to second on an ensuing walk by First-Team All-OVC second baseman Trevor Ezell. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch before Tristen Gagan singled to right and Faulkner scored. Chase Urhahn later delivered a two-out single through the right side and Ezell touched home to give the Redhawks a 2-0 advantage.
After that, 19 straight Redhawks went hitless until Cole Bornhop's one-out RBI-single ended the drought in the bottom of the seventh.
Gagan stepped up in the bottom of the eighth inning after Ezell walked and smashed a two-out two-run home run opposite field to right center stretching SEMO's lead to 5-1.
MSU managed to score the game's final run, but left-handed reliever Daniel Bergtholdt came on to get the last two outs earning his team-high fifth save.
Vega, now 8-3 this season, finished with 10 or more strikeouts for the second time this year.
Gray Dorsey (3-1) suffered the loss. Dorsey struck out five, walked three and gave up five runs on five hits in eight innings.
SEMO collected five hits for the game. Gagan went 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI to lead the way. The late home run marked his eighth of the season. Faulkner, Urhahn and Bornhop followed with one hit apiece.
Additionally, Ezell reached base safely for the 41st-consecutive game.
The Redhawks opened the OVC Tournament with a win for the second-straight year under head coach Andy Sawyers. Both of those victories came in Oxford.
SEMO, which beat the Racers for the fourth time in 2018, advances to face #3 Morehead State Thursday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m., CT.
