TROY, Ala.– Southeast Missouri (1-1) split two games in the opening day of the Troy University Tournament Friday. The Redhawks fell to Kennesaw State (5-0), 6-4, and beat Purdue Fort Wayne (0-4), 16-15, in extra innings.
 
SEMO pounded out 19 hits and slugged five home runs en route to getting its first win of the season in extra innings. The Redhawks and PFW combined for 31 runs, 37 hits and eight home runs. A total of 28 runs were scored between the two teams in the final five innings. The marathon game lasted 3:45.
 
The Redhawks held a 12-6 lead going into the bottom of the seventh when PFW scored six runs to send the game to extra innings. The Mastadons used a two-run home run Morganne Denny to tie the game with two outs.
 
With the international tiebreaker rule in effect, SEMO pulled ahead, 14-12, with the help of a sacrifice bunt RBI by Madison Harris and a sacrifice fly by Austine Pauley in the top of the eighth.
 
However, PFW hit another home run, this time a two-run shot by Olivia Stansbury to tie the game again in the bottom half of the inning.
 
Ashley Emert smacked a two-RBI double to put SEMO ahead, 16-14, in the ninth.
 
The Mastadons scored once more in the ninth, but Kaylee Anderson struck out Stansbury to nail down her first win of the season. Anderson struck out three in 3.1 innings.
 
Offensively, Pauley and Rachel Anderson each went 4-for-5 with a home run. Pauley had two runs and two RBI, and R. Anderson knocked in three runs and scored three times, as well.
 
Ellis went 3-for-6 with three runs scored, two home runs and four RBI. K. Anderson also added three hits.
 
SEMO had two runners on and the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, but came up short in a 6-4 season-opening loss to Kennesaw State.
 
The Redhawks pushed across two runs when they loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Harris was hit by a pitch and Chelsy Pena walked. Anna Griffin followed with a pinch-hit double down the right field line and Harris scored. Pauley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Gallo then drew a two-out walk and Pena scored to make it a 6-4 game. SEMO left the bases loaded after R. Anderson grounded out to second.
 
SEMO threatened again during its final at-bat when Ellis and Harris walked with one out. Emert fouled out and Rachael Donald lined out as KSU held on for the win.

The Redhawks scored their first run of the season in the bottom of the first inning.
 
KSU quickly tied things up in the top of the second and tacked on three more runs in the third to take a 5-1 lead. The Owls had four hits in the inning off freshman pitcher Paytience Holman.
 
Taylor Cates hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning for the Owls final run of the game.
 
Lindsey Kyte (2-0) was credited with the win in relief. Kyte struck out three in 2.1 innings. Kristen Davis picked up the save.
 
Holman (0-1) allowed five runs on five hits, struck out two and walked five in three innings during her first career start.
 
SEMO had just three hits, two of which went for extra bases. Anderson, the Redhawks all-time career leader in triples, posted her 25th triple. Griffin doubled for the other extra base knock.
 
The Redhawks left nine runners on base.
 
Cates went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI to lead KSU, which had seven hits. The Owls stranded 10 baserunners.
 
SEMO resumes play at the Troy University Tournament against Southern Mississippi and host Troy Saturday.