CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.- University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened the final road series of the season at Southeast Missouri State University with a 7-5 loss on Friday, failing to come back from the Redhawks' big fourth inning. USI is now 25-24 overall and 8-14 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Each side was held scoreless through the first three innings, as both pitching staffs worked around baserunners in the second and third innings. Senior designated hitter
Micajah Wall got USI into the hit column with a single in the second inning.
With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, the Screaming Eagles scored first on a two-run home run from junior catcher
Drue Saenz, his second of the season, to put USI ahead 2-0. He brought home senior outfielder
Hunter Miller with him, following his two-out single to centerfield. However, the RedHawks swiftly answered in the home half of the fourth inning with seven runs off six hits in the frame to take a 7-2 advantage.
The Screaming Eagles placed runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but the Redhawks pitched around them and stranded seven Eagles across the three innings to maintain a 7-2 lead into the eighth inning.
Ending the scoring drought in the eighth inning, junior
Gavyn Boyle delivered a two-out pinch-hit RBI single, bringing Saenz home to add one to the Screaming Eagles' score and shrinking the deficit to 7-3.
The Screaming Eagles rallied in the ninth inning, scoring back-to-back runs off RBIs from Miller and Saenz. However, the scoring surge was cut short, as the Redhawks recorded the final two outs to end the game.
Overall, USI scored its five runs off 12 hits but left 11 runners on base. SEMO scored its seven runs on eight hits and stranded eight.
Saenz led the Screaming Eagles' offense, going 4-5 at the plate with two runs and three RBIs. Miller finished 3-5, including two doubles, with a run and an RBI. Wall logged a pair of hits.
On the mound, junior right-hander
Ryan Weller (3-5) got the series-opening start but handed the ball off in the bottom of the fourth inning. Weller lasted 3.2 innings, struck out three, and was responsible for all seven SEMO runs.
The bullpen combination of senior right-handed pitcher
Andres Gonzalez, junior right-hander
Jacob Barrett, junior right-hander
Eben Hansen, and junior right-hander
Konner Quinn threw 4.1 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and only two hits surrendered, keeping the Screaming Eagles in the contest.
Southeast Missouri starting pitcher Mason Pennington (6-3) picked up the win but only threw 4.1 innings and allowed two runs. The Redhawks used four pitchers in middle relief before Gavin Johnston notched the final two outs for his second save of the season.
Up Next for the Screaming Eagles:
The Screaming Eagles and the Redhawks continue the three-game series on Saturday at 2 p.m., with the series finale scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Fans can follow USI Athletics on Facebook, Instagram, and X, as well as online at usiscreamingeagles.com for any schedule changes due to weather. Links to follow the Screaming Eagles during 2026 can be found on
USIScreamingEagles.com and the
USI Baseball Schedule.
