CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Andrew Keck knocked in the game-winning run on an infield single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to complete a remarkable comeback as Southeast Missouri (2-5) split a doubleheader with Northern Illinois (3-4) Saturday.
After dropping the first game, 7-5, SEMO rallied late to win the nightcap, 16-15, in extra innings.
The Redhawks were down, 15-6, when they scored nine runs on eight hits to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Danny Wright hit a grand slam and Justin Dirden smacked a two-run home run in an inning which saw 14 men come to the plate. Landon Hahn, Keck and Austin Blazevic also had RBI-hits in the Redhawks massive eighth.
SEMO and NIU went scoreless in the ninth and headed to extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th, Hahn led off with a walk and went to second on a bunt single by Wright. With one out, Dirden was intentionally walked to load the bases. On the next play, Keck delivered his one-out game-winning hit.
NIU scored multiple runs in four innings and led by as many as 10 runs (12-2) through the first four-and-a-half frames. The Huskies and Redhawks scored a combined 11 runs in the eighth inning to set up the dramatic finish.
Bryce Grossius (1-0) earned the win as the last of five SEMO pitchers to take the mound. He struck out one in one scoreless inning.
Tristan Michaels (0-2) suffered the loss for NIU.
SEMO registered 21 hits in the nightcap, 10 of which were in the final three innings. Keck went 4-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI, Dirden finished at 4-or-5 with four runs scored, a home run and four RBI and Wright added three hits, a run scored and four RBI. Tyler Wilber, Wade Stauss and Caleb Feuerstake also had multiple hits.
Game one featured four ties, five lead changes and resulted in a decisive eighth inning victory for NIU.
Deadlocked at 5-5 after seven innings, the Huskies used a two-RBI single from Tommy Szczasny to pull away for good.
Jake Dunham led off the NIU eighth with a walk and Jordan Larson singled. After a sacrifice-bunt moved the runners, SEMO reliever Nathan Bock entered the game. Szczasny greeted Bock with what ended up being his game-winning hit.
SEMO had a runner in scoring position and the tying run at the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but came up empty. The Redhawks were 3-for-16 (.188) with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners on base.
NIU struck first with a couple runs in the top of the second inning.
After scoring once in the bottom of the second, SEMO took its first lead in the third.
Wilber and Dirden started things off with back-to-back triples. Wilber scored on Dirden's hit and Keck reached on a fielder's choice. Blazevic hit a two-out single up the middle to put the Redhawks ahead, 3-2.
NIU tied the game at 3-3 during its next at-bat when nine-hole hitter Matt Barnes drove in Szczasny with two outs.
The Redhawks answered to take back the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Wilber doubled to right center, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dirden to get SEMO a 4-3 edge.
The see-saw battle continued as NIU quickly tied the game again on a leadoff home run by Dunham in the top half of the sixth. The Huskies then took the lead after Dylan Lonteen doubled, advanced to third on a base hit by Szczasny and scored on a squeeze play by Alex Rodriguez.
Wilber went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and a triple to lead SEMO. Blazevic and Feuerstake followed with two hits each.
Hayden Malenfant (0-1) took the loss out of SEMO's bullpen. Malenfant allowed two runs on two hits and walked one in two innings.
Collin Wilma made his first start on the mound working 5.1 innings. Wilma struck out six and gave up five runs on eight hits.
NIU finished with 12 hits, including three from Szczasny. He went a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, a walk and two RBI.
Nate Thomas (1-0) recorded six strikeouts and did not allow a walk over the final four innings to get his first win. Thomas scattered three hits and gave up a run, as well.
SEMO and NIU wrap up their four-game series Sunday.
