NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri (24-17, 17-9) fell to Tennessee State (23-21, 13-13) by scores of 8-7 and 4-2 Sunday.
 
SEMO, which dropped its series to TSU, claimed the #3 seed in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. The Redhawks will face the winner of #6 TSU and #7 Tennessee Tech on Wednesday, May 7 at 3 p.m., CT.
 
Gracie Luna hit her team-high seventh home run of the season to give SEMO a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning of the series finale.
 
The Redhawks added to their lead when Hailey Burnett ripped a single up the middle scoring Sydney Melton to extend the margin to 2-0 in the sixth.
 
However, Jace Jackson homered in the bottom of the sixth and then hit a three-run walk-off smash with two outs in the seventh inning claiming the series win. The inning was extended with a two-out error by the Redhawks.  
 
Delaney Kell (9-4) took the loss. Kell gave up three runs on two hits, struck out two and walked one in 1.2 innings of relief.
 
Brittany Affolter and Burnett had two hits apiece to lead SEMO.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
 
TSU jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
 
Mikayla Duke led things off with an infield single and scored on an ensuing home run by Jackson. Alexis Woods later tripled home a run and then scored on wild pitch to put the Tigers ahead.
 
Weather suspended the game in the top of the second inning Saturday night.
 
When the contest resumed today, SEMO got on the board after Luna walked, went to third on an error and touched home on a fielder's choice by Tatum Gerwitz to make it a 4-1 ballgame.                                                                                       
 
TSU answered with three more runs in the bottom of the second, including two on a double by Woods. A wild pitch also allowed Duke to score giving the Tigers a 7-1 advantage.
 
Brooklyn Saysoff hit a solo home run for her fifth round-tripper of the season to cut the Tigers lead to 7-2 in the top of the fifth.
 
SEMO continued to chip away and pulled within three runs with a three-run sixth inning.
 
Selby Patberg scored on a groundout by Sydney Dennis. After Gerwitz crossed home plate on a wild pitch, Saysoff knocked in Madison Winkler on a single up the middle, her fourth hit of the game, to narrow the Tigers margin to 8-5.
 
The Redhawks tacked on three more runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh.
 
With the bases loaded, Winkler delivered a single through the right side and Sophie Schupp scored. On the next play, Dennis hit into a fielder's choice and Brittany Affolter scored. SEMO then executed a double steal with two outs to tie the game. Gerwitz stole home on the front end of that steal to knot things up at 8-8.
 
After coming up empty in the top half of the eighth inning, TSU strung together three-straight hits, including the game-winning infield single by Onnika Spencer to get the 9-8 victory.
 
Saysoff tied a career-high with four hits going 4-for-5 with a run scored, home run and two RBI. Marinie followed with two hits and Gerwitz scored two runs.
 
SEMO edged TSU, 11-10, in the hit column.
 
Maddie Carney (3-6) suffered the loss. Carney struck out three and allowed two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. 
 
Olivia Calderone was credited with the win. Calderone worked three innings in relief, allowing six runs on five hits.
 
The 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament field includes #1 Eastern Illinois, #2 SIU Edwardsville, #3 SEMO, #4 Southern Indiana, #5 Lindenwood, #6 TSU, #7 Tennessee Tech and #8 UT Martin.