Southeast baseball wins first two, takes series over Morehead

Redhawks clinch series despite ninth-inning rally costing them finale

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:50am

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A fractured, geometric painting in shades of blue, green, and orange, breaking down a baseball game into sharp, overlapping planes to conceptually represent the dramatic extra-inning series opener between Southeast Missouri and Morehead State.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic extra-inning battle between Southeast Missouri and Morehead State, capturing the intensity and energy of the series-opening victory for the Redhawks.Morehead Today

Southeast Missouri baseball clinched a series win over Morehead State, taking the first two games before dropping the finale. The Redhawks won the opener 3-2 in 12 innings and the second game 10-8, despite a late Morehead rally in the third game.

Why it matters

This early-season series win over a conference rival is an important momentum boost for the Southeast Missouri baseball team as they look to build on last season's success and compete for a conference title.

The details

In the 12-inning opener, Mason Pennington and Nathan Mertens combined for 17 strikeouts on the mound for SEMO, with Mertens earning the win. Tank Sims delivered the walk-off double in the 12th. In the second game, Ranard Grace got the win in relief for the Redhawks, who built a big lead before holding off a late Morehead comeback attempt.

  • The series was played from April 10-12, 2026.
  • Game 1 went 12 innings on April 10.
  • Game 2 was played on April 11.
  • The series finale was on April 12.

The players

Mason Pennington

The Southeast Missouri starting pitcher who threw the first 7 innings in the opening game, striking out 12 batters.

Nathan Mertens

The Southeast Missouri relief pitcher who earned the win in the 12-inning opener, throwing 5 scoreless innings with 9 strikeouts.

Tank Sims

The Southeast Missouri player who delivered the walk-off double in the 12th inning of the opening game.

Ranard Grace

The Southeast Missouri relief pitcher who earned the win in the second game of the series.

Andrew Carroll

The Southeast Missouri starting pitcher in the second game, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing 3 runs.

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What they’re saying

“This was a big series win for us against a conference rival. The guys really battled and showed a lot of grit to come away with two wins, even though we couldn't finish it off in the finale.”

— Jim Esposito, Southeast Missouri Head Coach

What’s next

Southeast Missouri will next face rival Murray State in another key conference series.

The takeaway

Southeast Missouri's series win over Morehead State demonstrates the team's ability to win close games and overcome late rallies, positioning them well for a strong conference season and potential postseason run.