EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Southeast Missouri Baseball (18-12, 5-2 OVC) moved into a first-place tie with SIUE (12-16, 5-2 OVC) with a 9-5 victory on Saturday night in game one of the weekend series from Simmons Baseball Complex.
RHP
Nathan Mertens improved to 4-1 on the season with his performance on Saturday night as the La Canada, California-native hurled 7.0 innings. He allowed just three runs on three hits and struck out seven Cougars in the process.
The Redhawks pounded out 13 hits to score nine runs, outhitting the Cougars by a 13-4 advantage. SEMO finished the night 13-38 at the plate, including a 9-19 mark with runners in scoring position (.474).
Seven different Redhawks finished with at least one RBI led by second baseman
Carson Schrack and first baseman
Bryce Cannon who each finished with two RBIs. SEMO scored all nine runs via the RBI in game one of the series.
The Redhawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning with two outs as
Michael Mugan was plunked to start the two-out rally. A Cannon single, followed by a
Cole Warehime RBI single up the middle-plated Mugan for the game's first run.
DH
Ty Stauss kept the rally going with another single to center field to score Cannon to make it 2-0 SEMO after the first frame.
The Redhawks scored two more runs in the second inning after an RBI base hit by short stop
Brooks Kettering made it 3-0 SEMO. An infield single by Mugan plated
Caleb Champion from third base to make it 4-0 SEMO after the second inning.
SEMO would add a run in the third on an RBI single from
Caleb Corbin and a run in the fourth with an RBI double from Cannon to make it 6-0 SEMO after the fourth inning.
Another RBI from Cannon in the sixth inning would make it 7-0 SEMO, this one an RBI single to left field to drive in Kettering.
SIUE would get on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning with a three-run inning to make it 7-3 after the sixth.
Antoher two runs would come across for the Redhawks in the seventh inning thanks to a two-RBI single through the left side by second baseman
Carson Schrack to make it 9-3 Redhawks.
The Cougars would add two runs in the eighth, but LHP
Jackson Kranawetter struck out the side in the ninth to hold on for the 9-5 victory for the Redhawks.
Looking Ahead
SEMO Baseball will return to action tomorrow, Sunday, April 6, for game two of the series with SIUE. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m., CT. in Edwardsville, Ill.
