DALLAS – Jevon Mason went 3-for-5 with two runs, a pair of triples and knocked in the game-winning run in extra innings as Southeast Missouri (1-0) upset #22 Dallas Baptist (0-1), 7-6, in a four-and-a-half hour 12-inning victory Friday night.
 
SEMO improved to 4-2 in season-openers under Head Coach Andy Sawyers and snapped an eight-game losing streak against ranked teams. The Redhawks last knocked off a ranked opponent when they upended then-No. 20 Tennessee Tech, 10-6, on Apr. 29, 2018.
 
Newcomer Ben Palmer led off the top of the 12th inning with a walk on four pitches and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Peyton Leeper. Mason stepped in and delivered his game-winning triple to right field. 
 
Reliever Kyle Miller then retired DBU in order in the bottom of the 12th to finish off SEMO's opening day victory. 
 
SEMO put four runners on base in a two-run first inning that saw DBU starting right-hander Luke Eldred throw over 30 pitches. 
 
Mason, a Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference selection, smacked his first career triple in his first at-bat of the season and scored the game's first run when Tyler Wilber grounded out. Andrew Keck later doubled and touched home on a check swing single to left by Lincoln Andrews to give the Redhawks an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
 
A two-out error allowed DBU to score an unearned run and cut SEMO's lead in the bottom of the first. Cole Moore singled home Andrew Benefield to narrow the Redhawks lead to 2-1.
 
SEMO loaded the bases in the top of the fourth when Joel Vaske walked and both Ben Palmer and Peyton Leeper singled. On the next play, Mason reached on an error and Vaske scored. Wilber followed with a four-pitch walk and Palmer touched home to extend the Redhawks lead to 4-1.
 
Freshman Nathan Humphreys belted a two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the fourth to get the Patriots within a run. DBU left the bases loaded after Blake Cisneros forced Andrew Benefield to line out to third. 
 
A two-out error by Benefield allows SEMO to push its lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth. Mason and Leeper both scored on the play when Benefield threw poorly after fielding a ground ball by Andrew Keck.
 
With one out in the DBU sixth, Nate Rombach doubled and went to third on an ensuing single by Luke Heefner. Blayne Jones followed with a double to left scoring both Rombach and Heefner. Jace Grady then tied the game at 6-6 on a base hit to center.
 
The Redhawks came close to ending things in the 10th when Mason and Leeper both walked and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Danny Sperling. Wilber reached on a fielder's choice and Leeper was out on the force at home. The ball then got away from Rombach at catcher, who was able to regroup in time to tag Mason ending the inning.
 
Miller (1-0) threw six scoreless innings, struck out four and scattered just three hits out of SEMO's bullpen. 
 
In his first career Friday start, right-hander Bryce Grossius recorded six strikeouts and walked one while giving up three runs on five hits in 3.2 innings of a strong no-decision. 
 
Offensively, SEMO had 10 hits. Mason paved the way at the top of the Redhawks order. He also walked twice in the contest. Andrew Keck and Leeper followed with two hits and a run scored.
 
Luke Trahan (0-1) suffered the loss. Trahan allowed the decisive run on one hit and struck out three in 2.2 innings.
 
The Patriots put up 12 hits and were led by Jones who went 3-for-6 with a run scored and two RBI.
 
SEMO and DBU resume their series at 2 p.m., CT Saturday. Left-hander Noah Niznik will start on the mound.