CHARLESTON, Ill. – Tyler Wilber went 2-for-4 with a home run to lead Southeast Missouri (11-9, 5-2) to a 3-2 series-opening win over Eastern Illinois (11-10, 2-5) Friday at Coaches Stadium.
 
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, Wilber smacked his eighth career home run over the right center wall to tie the game. His round-tripper rallied the Redhawks, who quickly pulled ahead on an Austin Blazevic double moments later.
 
SEMO twice tied the game before Wilber sent a charge into the Redhawks late inning surge.
 
The Panthers struck early with a run in the bottom of the first when Ryan Knernschield singled home Lucas DiLuca.
 
SEMO scored its first run in the top of the third, where Jevon Mason led off with a single and went to third on an error. Mason touched home on an ensuing groundout to knot things up at 1-1.
 
Knernschield delivered again to regain a one-run edge for EIU in the bottom of the sixth. His one-out base hit scored Logan Eickhoff to give the Panthers a 2-1 edge before Wilber's game-tying homer in the eighth.
 
Dylan Dodd improved to 3-1 for the year after working 7.2 innings, his longest start of the season. Dodd struck out eight, walked one and gave up two runs on seven hits. He finished at least eight strikeouts in each of his five starts this year.
 
Austin Williams picked up his team-high third save after striking out two in 1.1 scoreless innings.
 
Ky Hampton (2-2) suffered the loss. Hampton allowed seven hits, three runs, struck out four and walked two in eight innings.
 
SEMO outhit EIU, 9-8, with Wilber, Mason and Peyton Leeper combining for six of the Redhawks hits. Mason went 2-for-5 with a run scored and Leeper finished at 2-for-3.
 
The Redhawks opened a series with a win for the fourth time this season. 
 
SEMO and EIU wrap up their series with a 11 a.m., CT doubleheader Saturday.