MARTIN, Tenn.– Tyler Wilber narrowly missed hitting for the cycle when he went 4-for-6 with two singles, a double, home run and six RBI to lead Southeast Missouri (8-6, 1-0) to a 16-6 Ohio Valley Conference opening win over UT Martin (4-9, 0-1) Saturday.
 
Wilber also scored a game-high three runs as SEMO posted its sixth win in a row.
 
The Redhawks held a comfortable 11-4 lead when they put up five runs in the eighth inning to bury the Skyhawks for good. 
 
Wade Stauss doubled home Andrew Keck and Landon Hahn followed with a two-RBI single to center. Danny Wright and Wilber each knocked in a run later in the inning to run SEMO's lead to 16-4. 
 
SEMO stormed out to a 6-1 lead in the first four innings of the contest.
 
Keck singled home Justin Dirden for the game's first run in the top of the first.
 
After UTM answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning, SEMO scored three times in the third and tacked on another two runs in the fourth.
 
Dirden, Keck and Stauss all delivered two-out RBI-hits in the third and Tyler Wilber belted a two-RBI double to left center to give the Redhawks a five-run cushion in the top of the fourth inning.
 
The Redhawks scored five other runs, including three in the sixth and two in the seventh.
 
SEMO went its fourth game in a row with double-digits in the hit column. The Redhawks finished with 17, their second-most in a game this year.
 
Like Wilber, Stauss, Keck, Hahn and Connor Basler also had multiple hits. Stauss, Hahn, Keck and Wright added two RBI apiece, as well.
 
Dylan Dodd (2-1) picked up the win working six innings. Dodd gave up four runs and six hits, struck out seven and walked two. He threw 94 pitches.
 
Eric Steensma (1-1) suffered the loss. Steensma walked two, struck out three and allowed six runs on nine hits in four innings.
 
SEMO and UTM resume their series Saturday.