CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri State won Saturday's game by a 9-2 score to claim the series from the Milwaukee Panthers heading into Sunday's finale.
 
The Panthers were outhit by just one,11-10, but struggled to string together consistent offensive rallies. Joey Spence led Milwaukee with three hits, while Tate Schmidt added a pair. Dominic Kibler had two RBIs to lead the way, while Dylan O'Connell and Tristan Ellis crossed the plate for the Panthers.
 
Six different players for Southeast Missouri State picked up RBIs, with Moises Rosario collecting two. Carson Schrack was 3-for-3 at the plate for the Redhawks, scoring two runs in the win.
 
"Right now, we are going through it, both on and off the field, with fighting this virus that's knocking guys out daily," said head coach Shaun Wegner. "I really thought we had our best day defensively in the diamond, but we couldn't quite pitch it or hit it well enough to complement that facet."
 
Milwaukee took an early lead in the top of the third as Ellis singled and later came in to score on an infield single by Kibler.
 
Panther starter Aric Ehmke set down the Redhawks without allowing a hit in the bottom of the third before Southeast Missouri State scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead.
 
The Panthers got a run back in the top of the fifth as O'Connell led off the inning with a triple before a groundout by Kibler brought home Milwaukee's second run.
 
SEMO got the run right back in the bottom half and added two more in the sixth and another three runs in the bottom of the seventh to extend its lead to seven.
 
After scoring in the fifth, Milwaukee left three more runners on base, finishing the game with 10 runners stranded.
 
"Once again, we found ourselves with some opportunities to put up a crooked number, but we failed to execute to do so," Wegner added. "On the flip side, SEMO did just that to us in those middle innings, and they showed the complementary, multi-faceted offense that we are striving to be."
 
Cullen Riel closed out the game for Milwaukee and pitched the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run, scattering two hits and a walk.
 
Nathan Mertens earned the win in relief for the Redhawks, pitching four scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Starting pitcher John-Paul Sauer went the first 3 2/3 innings and struck out five but did not factor into the decision.
 
"I'm hopeful we can get close to our full travel roster available tomorrow and go out and compete for a Sunday win," Wegner concluded.
 
Milwaukee and Southeast Missouri State will wrap up the three-game set on Sunday afternoon with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. at Capaha Field.