CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A five-run seventh inning lifted Southeast Missouri to a 5-1 win over SIUE Saturday at Capaha Field.
The Cougars fell to 11-6 in the OVC and 22-21 overall. SEMO is now 12-5 in the OVC and 31-12 overall.
The Cougars will look to salvage a game from the series Sunday. The finale is set for 1 p.m.
Ryan Niedzwiedz provided the only offense for the Cougars, interrupting a pitcher's duel for his OVC-leading 19th home run of the season and his second of the series. He now has 38 home runs for his SIUE career.
That was the only run SEMO starter Mason Pennington allowed in 5.1 innings.
SIUE starter Spencer Stearns allowed just a run on three hits over 6.1 innings. He struck out one and walked one. Stearns gave up a leadoff double to Josiah Hall in the seventh before retiring the next hitter and exiting the game.
Porter Conn (1-1) took over with a runner at second and one out but walked the only two hitters he faced. Brennen Grams relieved Conn with the bases loaded and also walked a pair of batters which forced two runners home to put SEMO on top 2-1.
Easton Harris followed on the mound. He struck out Brooks Kettering for the second out before walking in another run and then surrendering a two-run single to Cal Sullivan to push the lead out to 5-1.
The Cougars outhit the Redhakws 8-4 in the game. Niedzwiedz and Ethan Willoughby each had two hits for SIUE.
