Baseball Falls in Extras 3-2 in Series Opener at SEMO

Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State and Southeast Missouri went 12 innings to decide the series opener with Southeast Missouri prevailing 3-2 Friday night at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
 
With the game tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the 12^th, SEMO got a one-out single to left and ended the game with a walk-off double to center.
 
Reliever Cole Wells (3-3) took the loss pitching the 12^th in a high-leverage situation for the Eagles. Starter Callum McGill threw four innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
 
Morehead State (16-17, 4-6 OVC) got the scoring started with a run in the third. Shortstop Jaden Correa smacked a one-out double down the right field line. He stole second base and scored as the throw got by the third baseman and into left field.
 
Southeast Missouri (24-10, 7-3 OVC) immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the third. Redhawk first baseman Cal Sullivan smacked a one-out home run over the wall in left-center. SEMO designated hitter Josiah Hall drove a ground-rule double to left-center and scored on a sharp single by SEMO third baseman Dakota Joggerst into right field.
 
The Eagles evened the score in the fourth. MSU designated hitter Aubrey Kearns reached on a lined single to right-center. Right fielder Ian McCubbin singled to center to put runners on the corners. Nick Griffith scored Kearns with a sacrifice fly to center.
 
The Eagles dodged a bullet in the bottom of the fifth. SEMO loaded the bases with a walk, an infield single and another walk. Devin Costa came out of the bullpen and wriggled out of the jam with a double-play on a liner caught by second baseman Nick Griffith, who doubled the runner off second for two outs. Costa then got a strikeout looking to end the threat.
 
Southeast Missouri's Nathan Mertens (3-2) earned the win for SEMO. He threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits. He struck out nine Eagle batters and walked one.
 
The Eagles and the Redhawks are scheduled to hook up tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. ET., and hour later than regularly scheduled. The game is scheduled to be aired on ESPN+.
 
NOTABLE

• Ian McCubbin led the MSU offense with two hits, extending his hitting streak to six games.
• Aubrey Kearns extended his hit streak to five games; he has hit safely in 29 of the Eagles' 33 games.
• Nick Griffith went 1-4 at the plate extending his hit streak to  seven games.