CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.– Eight different players had a hit as Southeast Missouri (4-1) dropped its series-opener to Western Illinois (1-3), 9-2, Friday afternoon at Capaha Field.
The game was scoreless through two innings before WIU scored in four-straight frames.
Drue Galassi doubled to right center and scored on a sacrifice fly, while Kevin Raisbeck singled and later scored on a wild pitch to grab the Leathernecks a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
After scoring once in the fourth, WIU plated two more runs in the fifth when Deion Thompson doubled and touched home on a wild pitch, and Galassi hit a solo home run to center.
Galassi came up again in the sixth inning and this time smacked a three-run home run to widen WIU's lead to 8-1.
The Redhawks loaded the bases with no outs and came away with one run in the bottom of the eighth when
Wade Stauss scored on a double play ball. Stauss led off the inning with a double to right.
SEMO's only run of the game came by way of an
Alex Nielsen infield single in the bottom of the fourth.
Left-hander
Dylan Dodd (0-1) fell to his first loss of the season allowing five runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings. Dodd walked one, struck out one and threw two wild pitches, as well.
Daniel Lloyd relieved Dodd in the fifth and gave up three runs on two hits and walked two in two-thirds of an inning.
Blake Cisneros and
Bryce Grossius held WIU scoreless the final three innings.
Javin Drake (1-1) picked up the win for the Leathernecks. Drake scattered five hits and allowed one run while striking out seven and walking three in five innings.
Connor Basler,
Brett Gonzalez,
Tyler Wilber, Stauss,
Hunter Southerland,
Austin Blazevic,
Turner Fritts and
Alex Nielsen accounted for SEMO's hits.
Additionally, SEMO stranded 11 baserunners and committed three errors.
Galassi went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two home runs, a double and four RBI out of the nine-hole to lead WIU. The Leathernecks collected a total of 10 hits.
The Redhawks and Leathernecks resume play at 1 p.m., CT, Saturday.
