CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. –
Tyler Wilber went 3-for-4 and narrowly missed hitting for the cycle as Southeast Missouri (23-17, 15-9) overcame a five-run deficit to pull off a 7-6 series clinching win over Eastern Kentucky (16-29, 10-17) Saturday.
SEMO recorded its ninth series win of the season and seventh in Ohio Valley Conference play.
The Redhawks trailed, 5-0, after EKU scored three runs in the first and two in the third.
With two outs in the bottom of the third,
Connor Basler walked and
Jevon Mason doubled before Wilber hit a three-run home run to right just over the glove of right fielder Kendall Ewell. Wilber's sixth home run of the season narrowed the Colonels lead to 5-3.
SEMO went on to score the next four runs of the game en route to taking the lead.
After
Peyton Leeper delivered a two-out RBI-triple in the fourth inning the Redhawks pulled ahead, 6-5, on a big two-out, two-RBI single by
Connor Basler in the bottom of the sixth.
Wilber singled and later scored on a double by
Andrew Keck to increase SEMO's lead to 7-5 in the seventh.
EKU would not go down quietly in its final at-bat in the ninth.
Cam Ridley reached on a one-out triple to right center and scored on an ensuing base hit by Ewell to make it a one-run ballgame.
Freshman reliever
Kyle Miller got Daniel Harris IV to hit into a fielder's choice. Leeper made a diving stop on Harris' grounder and threw out Ewell at second base. Miller then forced Caleb Upshaw to fly out in foul territory in the right field corner to nail down his third save of the season.
Austin Williams struck out four in 2.1 strong innings before Miller came on with one out in the dramatic ninth inning.
Hunter Ralls (2-1) was credited with the win. Ralls relieved starter
Noah Niznik in the fourth inning and threw three scoreless innings. Ralls allowed three hits and struck out one, as well.
Jacob Abbott (2-3) suffered the loss for EKU. Abbott scattered three hits and allowed two runs in 1.1 innings.
SEMO outhit the Colonels, 11-9, and registered double-digit hits for the 18th time this season.
Wilber fell a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with a double, home run and one single. He also added two runs scored and three RBI.
Keck finished at 3-for-4 with the decisive RBI-hit, while Basler went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
The Redhawks head to Morehead State for a huge Ohio Valley Conference clash on May 14-15.
