MACOMB, Ill. – Southeast Missouri (11-9, 4-1) scored 31 runs and pounded out 31 hits, including six home runs in a 16-5, 15-4, doubleheader sweep of Western Illinois (6-16, 2-3) Friday.
SEMO claimed its second-straight Ohio Valley Conference series win.
The Redhawks hit a season-high four home runs to key its game one victory.
Tied, 1-1,
Kinley Wilkins hit a three-run home run for the first round-tripper of her career as part of a four-run third inning.
Hailey Burnett and
Gracie Luna scored on the play to widen SEMO's lead to 5-1.
SEMO tacked on five more runs two innings later.
Wilkins led off the fifth inning with a walk and
Addisyn Martinie reached on an error.
Tatum Gerwitz followed with a single to load the bases.
Madison Winkler flied out to center and Wilkins scored.
After WIU made a pitching change,
Sydney Dennis walked to load the bases again.
Brooklyn Saysoff then smacked her first career grand slam to put SEMO ahead, 10-1.
The Leathernecks answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth before Burnett started the sixth inning with her first career home run. Dennis later drove in Wilkins on a two-out single to center giving the Redhawks a 12-4 advantage.
Another leadoff home run, this time by
Sydney Melton, added to SEMO's lead in the top of the seventh. Winkler drew a two-out bases loaded walk to bring in Wilkins and Dennis followed with a two-RBI double to left center to finish off the 16-5 win.
The Redhawks' 16 runs marked their most in a game since they beat Tennessee State, 16-8, on Apr. 28, 2018.
SEMO matched a season-high 15 hits with Dennis going 3-for-5 with career-high four RBI. She stretched her hitting streak to 15 games.
Melton, Burnett, Wilkins and Gerwitz followed with two hits apiece. Wilkins also scored a career-best four runs and established a new career-high three RBI. Gerwitz had three runs scored, as well.
Maddie Carney (2-4) picked up the win. Carney worked five innings with three strikeouts.
Down, 2-0, SEMO scored eight runs in the top of the third inning to blow the game open in the nightcap.
The Redhawks strung together five-straight hits to ignite their big inning.
Gerwitz and Winkler reached on back-to-back singles and Dennis knocked in Gerwitz on a double to center. Saysoff singled and stole second before Melton stepped in and hit a three-run home run for her second homer of the doubleheader. Gerwitz came up again, drove in two runs and later scored on a triple by Winkler to put SEMO up, 8-2.
SEMO continued to pick apart the Leathernecks with six more runs in the fourth.
Gracie Luna hit a three-run home run before Winkler knocked in two runs on a two-out double and Dennis followed with a RBI-single to make it a 14-3 ballgame.
Addisyn Martinie's two-out single scored
Brittany Affolter for SEMO's final run in the top of the fifth.
SEMO finished with a season-high 16 hits in game two.
Dennis, Melton, Martinie, Gerwitz and Winkler all had multiple hits. Winkler went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead the way. Gerwitz finished at 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI, as well.
Tegan Livesay (3-1) earned the win. Livesay struck out five and allowed four runs on five hits in 4.1 innings.
The Redhawks have won six of their last eight games.
SEMO goes for the sweep of WIU Saturday.
