FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Southeast Missouri (28-25) pulled ahead of #12 Arkansas (37-16) early but came up on the short end of a 3-2 loss Friday night in the NCAA Regional.
 
SEMO knocked out First-Team All-SEC pitcher Morgan Leinstock in the second inning en route to scoring the game's first runs.
 
Three-consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Redhawks with one out. Kynzie Wrigley hit a base hit to left, Sydney Dennis singled up the middle and Tatum Gerwitz legged out an infield single. 
 
After Leinstock gave way to Robyn Herron, nine-hole hitter Brittany Affolter drove an 0-2 pitch into center field scoring Wrigley and Dennis to put SEMO ahead, 2-0.
 
The Redhawks held their two-run lead for four-and-a-half innings before UA mounted its comeback in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Rylin Hedgecock hit a leadoff double down the right field line to spark the Razorbacks decisive three-run inning. 
 
After Spencer Prigge grounded out, three-straight hits followed. Reagan Johnson doubled to left center and pinch-runner Ally Sockey scored to make it a one-run ballgame. Johnson scored the tying run on an ensuing base hit by Nia Carter. Kennedy Miller was then ahead 3-2 in the count before reaching on a walk and allowing Carter to score the winning run.
 
SEMO and UA met for the third time this season in Fayetteville and tonight marked the second game decided by a run. The Redhawks dropped a 6-5 decision in eight innings in the last matchup between the team on Mar. 3.
 
Second-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference pitcher Paytience Holman (16-10) allowed three runs on six hits and struck out one in five innings. 
 
Herron (12-8) picked up the win out of the bullpen. She worked 5.2 scoreless innings and scattered three hits. Herron also struck out five and walked none.
 
Defensively, SEMO did not commit an error and made some excellent plays. One of those plays was a highlight-reel catch by Gerwitz. With two outs in the bottom of the second inning, Gerwitz laid out for a diving catch from her position in right field. 
 
The ball, which came off the bat of Raigan Kramer, bounced off Gerwitz's glove when she hit the ground and later came back into her hand for the catch. UA challenged that the ball wasn't caught and replay review upheld the ruling for the final out of the inning.
 
SEMO finished with seven hits, all of which were singles. Abigail Rickermann, Paige Halliwill, Aubrie Shore, Wrigley, Dennis, Gerwitz and Affolter each had a hit in their NCAA Tournament debuts.
 
The Redhawks face Villanova in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m., CT Saturday.