Game #4
Saint Louis (0-3) vs. Southeast Missouri (1-2)
 
Game Information: 
Date: Tuesday, February 17 
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Capaha Field
Sawyers vs. SLU: 8-3
 
Head Coaches: 
SEMO: Andy Sawyers (336-251 overall; 248-224 at SEMO; 10^th Season)
SLU: Miles Miller (0-3 overall; First Season)
 
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Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Listen: SEMO ESPN 93.5 FM or 1220 AM (Kyler Messenger)
Tickets
 
Game Notes (PDF)

Redhawks Host In-State Foe Saint Louis in First Midweek of Season
Southeast Missouri Baseball (1-2) will return to action on Tuesday, February 17, as they welcome in in-state opponent Saint Louis (0-3) to Cape Girardeau. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m., CT. from Capaha Field. 
 
Sawyers vs. Saint Louis
Tuesday's showdown with the Bilikens marks the 11^th time the Redhawks and SLU will meet on the baseball diamond under Andy Sawyers. In 10 seasons, the Redhawks hold a 7-3 advantage over the Billikens including an 8-1 victory in Saint Louis last season. SEMO has not lost to SLU since the 2019 season. 
 
Opening Weekend
The Redhawks are coming off a three-game set with Illinois State to begin the 2026 campaign this past weekend in Cape Girardeau. SEMO dropped the first two games on Friday, as the series was altered due to weather, before powering their way to a 10-1 victory in Sunday's series finale. Utility player Cal Sullivan provided the biggest offensive spark on the weekend, hitting .364 over the three games with a pair of home runs and eight RBIs. He slugged an impressive .909 and was on base 46.2-percent of the time. RHP Mason Pennington had a career outing in Sunday's game as he improved to 1-0 on the season. Pennington pitched 5.1 innings, struck out seven opponents, and allowed just one earned run. He held the Redbirds to just a .118 batting average with their lone run coming on a solo home run. 
 
Career-Day
RHP Mason Pennington had one of the best starts of his career in his 2026 debut. Pennington, a Collinsville, Oklahoma-native, tossed an impressive 5.1 innings on Sunday en route to a 10-1 victory over Illinois State. Pennington recorded seven strikeouts in the contest, marking a new career-high for the right hander after surpassing his previous high of five. He finished the outing with a 1.69 ERA while his opponents hit just .118 against him. 
 
Your Grace
LHP Ranard Grace made his SEMO debut on Friday evening in the second game of the doubleheader. Grace, a Madison, Miss.-native, pitched 2.1 innings in relief of Andrew Carroll. Grace allowed just two runs and struck out three Redbirds, holding the opponent to just a .222 batting average. 
 
Big Kick
RHP #20 Caden Kickhaefer made his 2026 debut on Friday afternoon as he looked sharp in 1.1 innings of work. Kickhaefer recorded three strikeouts in his outing and allowed zero walks for the fifth time in his SEMO career. Kickhaefer allowed just one run and a .200 opposing batting average. 
 
Freshman Debut
Freshman LHP Ben Snider made his collegiate baseball debut on Sunday afternoon in 2.2 innings of relief against Illinois State. Snider, a native of Prior Lake, Minn., was flawless allowing just one hit and punching out two Redbirds. Snider was one-of-seven Redahwk pitchers to record multiple Ks in an opening weekend debut. 
 
Set It Up
RHP #31 Gavin Johnston was in midseason form in his lone outing of the weekend in Friday's game two of the doubleheader. Johnston, an Arnold, Mo.-native, pitched a flawless inning as he struck out the side. He finished the outing with a perfect 0.00 ERA in the eighth inning. 
 
Swiss Army Knife
Utility Cal Sullivan made a big impact in the heart of the SEMO lineup this weekend as he provided the most power of any Redhawk. Sullivan, a junior from Ely, Iowa, powered two home runs and recorded eight RBIs over the three-games. He had five RBIs in Sunday's 10-1 victory over Illinoi State. 
 
The Backstop
Sophomore catcher Tank Sims made his collegiate debut this past weekend, playing and starting in two-of-three games behind the dish. He finished the weekend with a .500 average (3-6) and drove in a pair of RBIs. He fielded his position cleanly recording 11 putouts, three assists, and fielded 1.000 in two games. 
 
New Outfield
All three outfield positions this weekend were occupied by a mix of newcomers and one returnee including juniors Caleb Klein, Logan Yule, Ryan Lopetegui, and Demitri Shakotko (returner). The first three started the opening game of the season in center, left, and right field, respectively, while Shakotko got the start in left field in game two of Friday's DH. 
 
Designated Hitter
Sophomore newcomer Joe Hall served as this weekend's designated hitter in all three games to begin the season. Hall was impressive at the plate as he finished with a .444 batting average including a team-high two doubles. He slugged .667 over nine at-bats and recorded four total hits and six total bases. He was on base 58.3-percent of the time and drew a walk and was hit-by-a-pitch twice. 
 
Team Speed
The Redhawks began the season with serious activity on the base path(s) against Illinois State. SEMO attempted seven stolen bases and stole all seven of them led by right fielder Ryan Lopetegui. Lopetegui was 2-2 in steal attempts as five other Redhawks recorded a stolen base on opening weekend. 
 
First of its Kind
Veteran infielder Carson Schrack was one-of-the-six Redhawks to record a stolen base over the weekend. The Edgerton, Kansas-native recorded a stolen base for the first time in his SEMO career in Sunday's 10-1 victory over Illinois State.