NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (24-15, 17-7) scored the final five runs in a 5-2 comeback win over Tennessee State (21-21, 11-13) in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday. Game two was suspended in the top of the second inning due to inclement weather with TSU leading, 4-0.
SEMO and TSU will resume game two at 1 p.m., CT Sunday before their series finale.
The Redhawks wiped out a two-run deficit to pull off their come-from-behind win.
Down, 2-0, SEMO scored once in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the contest.
Tatum Gerwitz reached on an error in the top of the fifth and scored when
Sydney Dennis hit into a fielder's choice to make it a one-run ballgame.
In the sixth,
Sydney Melton led off with a double and scored the tying run on an error.
The Redhawks took the lead for good when they added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Brittany Affolter drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on yet another TSU error.
Madison Winkler scored Affolter for the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly. Gerwitz later touched home on a fielder's choice and Melton knocked in pinch-runner
Selby Patberg on her second double of the game to give SEMO a 5-2 advantage.
Delaney Kell (9-3) went the distance for her team-high sixth complete game. Kell allowed just two runs on five hits, walked one and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts.
Melton and Dennis paved the way with two hits apiece.
SEMO outhit TSU, 8-5. Defensively, the Tigers committed three errors.
All eight teams are now set for next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Eastern Illinois clinched the OVC regular-season title and #1 seed. SIU Edwardsville, SEMO, Lindenwood, Southern Indiana, TSU, UT Martin and Tennessee Tech complete the eight-team field.
