EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southeast Missouri (11-14, 1-1 OVC) split Saturday's double header with SIUE (14-7, 1-1 OVC) winning the first contest 7-5. The Redhawks fell in the second game by a final score of 5-4. 
 
Game 1
LHP Noah Niznik got the nod in the first game of the weekend series. The St. Louis, Mo.-native went 5.1 innings pitched allowing five runs. Niznik recorded 10 strikeouts in the outing over 24 SIUE batters faced and just four hits in the 110-pitch outing. 
 
The Redhawks used a five-run top of the ninth inning to take game one beginning with a single by catcher Nolan Ackerman to get the rally started. 
 
Two straight walks to Peyton Leeper and Danny Sperling and a hit-by-pitch from Carlos Aranda made the score 5-3, as SEMO had the bases loaded. 
 
Designated hitter Jevon Mason roped a double down the left field line to score Ben Palmer and Peyton Leeper to make the score 5-5 with just one out in the inning. 
 
Chace Resetich delivered the game-winning hit, a two RBI single that scored Aranda and Mason as the Redhawks would hold on for the game one victory. 
 
RHP Fischer Rausch (1-0) was credited with the win. Rausch recorded three strikeouts in the outing, pitching 1.1 innings allowing no hits.
 
Kyle Miller picked up his second save of the season as he shut the door on the Cougars in the home ninth to pick up their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season. 

Eight different Redhawks recorded a hit as SEMO as a team registered eight hits in the first nine innings of Saturday. 
 
Game 2
Jevon Mason led the Redhawks offense in the second game of Saturday afternoon, going 3-for-5 including a double and an RBI as the Redhawks fell 5-4. 
 
SIUE got on the board first against RHP Payton Lawrence as the Cougars scratched a run across in the opening frame. 

Ole Arntson singled off Lawrence to plate the first run of the contest as SIUE jumped out to a 1-0 lead. 

The Redhawks would respond with three runs in the top of inning two as Chance Resetich led off the inning with a single to right field. 
 
With runners on the corners following a Nolan Ackerman single put runners on the corners with just one out in the inning. 
 
Center fielder Brett Graber drove in Leeper from third base as the Redhawks tied the game. 
 
A walk loaded the bases for Danny Sperling who was hit-by-a-pitch to score Ackerman to put the Redhawks in front, 2-1. 
 
Carlos Aranda hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate the third run of the inning for SEMO as the Redhawks took a 3-1 lead into the home second. 
 
SIUE left fielder Brennan Orf hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the third off Lawrence to tie the game at three. 
 
The Cougars would take the lead in the fifth inning with a RBI double to center field by Brady Bunten to score Orf, giving SIUE a 4-3 lead midway through the second contest. 
 
Jevon Mason drove in his RBI in the seventh inning to tie the contest at four as Aranda came into score with just one out in the inning. 
 
Right-fielder Kyle Ratliff hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied to give SIUE a one-run lead as the Cougars held on to take the second game. 
 
Lawrence finishe the game going 4.2 innings pitched with eight strikeouts. The right-hander gave up four runs on six hits. 
 
LHP Ethan Osborne (2-3) took the loss in the second game, allowing just two hits and a run in an inning of work. 
 
Tomorrow's Rubber-Match
Southeast Missouri and SIUE will play the rubber match to decide the OVC-opening series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m., CT. at Roy E. Lee Field in Edwardsville, Ill.