AUBURN, Ala. – Kynzie Wrigley and Zoe Schulte each had to hits and Southeast Missouri (4-9) pulled within a run twice in a 9-6 loss to Northern Iowa (8-2) Sunday.
 
SEMO fell into a hole early when five of the first eight UNI hitters got a hit to open a four-run lead for the Panthers in the top of the first inning.
 
UNI had two runners on base on only five pitches. Kylee Sanders hit Maddie Carney's second offering of the game for an infield single and advanced to second on a base hit by Alexis Pupillo. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Addison McElrath hit a two-RBI single up the middle. A RBI-double by Kate Lappe and run-scoring single by Savanna Jamilo followed to put the Panthers ahead, 4-0.
 
A throwing error, walk and wild pitch set UNI up for two more runs (both unearned) that pushed its lead to 6-0 an inning later.
 
SEMO got back in the game quickly in the bottom of the third inning.
 
Pinch-hitter Kat Sackett sent a charge into the Redhawks with a leadoff home run to center for the fifth round-tripper of her career. 
 
With one out, Schulte reached on a bunt single and went to second on a pinch-hit single by Abigail Rickermann. On the next play, Paige Halliwill scored Schulte on a base hit to left center. After Rickermann scored on a passed ball and Brooklyn Saysoff walked, Wrigley delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to center making it a 6-5 ballgame. 
 
SEMO sent 10 hitters to the plate and had five hits in its big third inning.
 
In the top of the sixth, UNI capitalized on an error to plate another run. Taylor Hogan reached on the SEMO mishap to start the inning and moved to second on a groundout. Ellie Owen stepped in and hit a pinch-hit single to center scoring Hogan to give the Panthers a 7-5 advantage.
 
The Redhawks pulled within a run again with two outs in the bottom of the sixth when Aubrie Shore knocked in Sophie Schupp on a single to right center. SEMO later left the tying run at third base after Anna Wischnowski forced Gracie Luna to line out to center.
 
UNI finished off the Redhawks in the top of the seventh where Megan Parks singled and scored on a one-out triple by Lappe. An ensuing Hogan single drove in Lappe completing the 9-6 win.
 
SEMO had chances after its five-run third inning but left five runners on base the rest of the game. Three of those were in scoring position. All three Redhawks struck out in the seventh, as well.
 
Kara Maiers (1-0) earned her first win of the season for the Panthers. Maiers struck out two and allowed three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings.
 
Wischnowski was credited with the save after holding off the Redhawks for the final 4.2 innings. She struck out seven, walked three and gave up three runs on six hits.
 
Carney (0-4) scattered five hits and allowed five runs in one inning.
 
Livesay gave up one run (unearned) and struck out two in two innings before Paytience Holman struck out four, walked one and gave up three runs on five hits in the final four frames.
 
Wrigley went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Schulte finished at 2-for-3 with a run scored. Five other Redhawks got a hit, including Rickermann, Halliwill, Shore, Tori Bradley and Sackett.
 
UNI edged SEMO, 10-9, in the hit column.
 
SEMO wraps up tournament play when it travels to the Arkansas Woo Pig Classic Mar. 1-3.