CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Indiana State chipped away at the Southeast Missouri State early lead throughout the contest, but the Sycamores were unable to rally all the way back in Sunday's finale in falling to the host Redhawks, 8-6.
 
Sunday's loss results in a series split between Indiana State (7-9) and SEMO (8-7) as the teams completed the four-game series held at Capaha Field over the weekend.
 
SEMO jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as the Redhawks sent all nine batters to the plate in the frame. Demitri Shakotko provided the big hit in the inning with a two-out, two-run single scoring Brooks Kettering and Andrew Ramirez to give the Redhawks the early lead.
 
The Sycamores rallied back in the third with Carter Beck connecting on a bouncing double down the right field line allowing Jackson Taylor to score from first for Indiana State's first run of the contest. Beck took third on the relay home and came around to score on Thomas Emerich's grounder to cut the margin down to 5-2.
 
Cole Warehime added to SEMO's lead in the fifth with a two-run home run to left field, but the Sycamores continued to fight their way back as Keegan Garis (sixth inning) and Carlos Pena (seventh inning) connected on solo home runs to keep the Redhawks within striking distance late.
 
The Sycamores pulled back within one run in the top of the eighth inning as Garis continued to have the hot bat on the day with a one-out single through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, Mason Roell connected on a double to left field with Garis sliding into home to cut the deficit down to 7-6.
 
SEMO reliever Jackson Kranawetter (S, 2) entered and retired Taylor on strikes to halt the Indiana State rally in the eighth.
 
After the Redhawks plated an insurance run in the eighth, Indiana State had one final chance as Pena lined a single to left field to put the tying run at the plate with two outs. However, the Sycamore rally ended as Kranawetter retired the final batter on strikes to close out the contest and secure his second save of the weekend.
 
Pena and Garis both had multi-hit games for Indiana State as the Sycamores connected on eight hits overall in the loss. Beck and Roell both doubled, while Pena and Garis homered to highlight the offense.
 
Ty Brooks (1-2) took the loss after going the first 2.1 innings on the mound. The freshman allowed five hits and five runs while walking three, before turning the ball over to the Indiana State bullpen. Jack Armstrong, Brady Banker, Carson Seeman, Zac Laird, and Breyllin Suriel combined to go the final 5.2 innings allowing six hits and three runs (two earned), while striking out two.
 
Warehime and Ty Stauss had three hits apiece to lead a SEMO offense that combined for 11 hits overall in Sunday's win. Warehime homered and drove in four RBIs, while Bryce Cannon, Stauss, and Shea McGahan all doubled for the Redhawks.
 
Haden Dow (3-1) picked up the win going 6.0 innings allowing four hits and four runs while striking out six. Alex Hayes allowed two runs over 1.1 innings, while Gavin Johnston and Kranawetter went the rest of the way with a trio of strikeouts to close out the game.
 
How They Scored

• Cole Warehime sparked a five-run SEMO second inning with an RBI single, while Ty Stauss (RBI double) and Demitri Shakotko (two-run single) also drove in runs as the Redhawks took the early lead in Sunday's finale.
• The Sycamores responded with two runs in the top of the third inning. Carter Beck doubled home Jackson Taylor for Indiana State's first run. Beck came around to score on a SEMO error on Thomas Emerich's grounder to cut the lead down to 5-2.
• Indiana State continued to chip away in the fourth as Taylor singled home Eli Gipson to make it a 5-3 contest.
• Warehime put SEMO back in the runs column in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-run home run scoring Bryce Cannon to give the Redhawks the 7-3 lead.
• Keegan Garis went opposite field for a solo home run in the top of the sixth inning, his second in as many days, to cut the SEMO lead down to 7-4.
• Carlos Pena pulled the Sycamores back within 7-5 with a solo home run into the party deck in right field to cut the Redhawks' lead down to two runs.
• Mason Roell made it a one-run ballgame in the top of the eighth as the freshman third baseman's double to left field scored Garis to cut the deficit down to 7-6.
• SEMO put across an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Warehime's grounder up the middle went through Taylor at second base allowing Caleb Champion to score to provide the final 8-6 margin.

News & Notes

• Carlos Pena ran his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games following his 2-for-3 outing at the plate on Sunday afternoon.
• The senior has posted multi-hit games in five of his last six contests and leads the Sycamores with a .364 batting average, 20 hits, and 17 RBIs.
• Keegan Garis homered for the second consecutive game and has the team lead with 16 runs scored, while adding 14 RBIs and seven extra-base hits.
• Garis and Pena homered in back-to-back innings on Sunday afternoon marking Indiana State's first multi-home run game since February 18 at Florida Gulf Coast. 

Up Next
Indiana State returns home to start a seven-game homestand at Bob Warn Field starting on Tuesday afternoon as the Sycamores welcome Indiana to Terre Haute. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. ET with the game set to be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.

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