CHARLESTON, Ill. – Tristan Facer delivered a two-run bases loaded single with one out in the bottom of the ninth as Eastern Illinois rallied for a 6-5 win over Southeast Missouri to take the rubber game of the weekend Ohio Valley Conference series.

EIU improved to 20-24 overall, 11-10 in the OVC while SEMO fell to 19-20, 9-10 in the OVC. EIU will play at Indiana State and Chicago State in midweek games before hosting Austin Peay next weekend in another crucial conference series.

Trailing 5-3 heading into the ninth, Curt Restko singled off of Todd Strahlendorf to open the inning. The Redhawks relief pitcher then walked the No. 9 hitter Bart Thyer.  Brett Nommensen connected for his third double of the day to score Restko and cut the margin to 5-4.

Southeast Missouri then forced an infield pop up before intentionally walking Zach Skidmore. Facer then hit a sharp ball between third and short that rolled into left field allowing two runs to score. Strahlendorf was saddled with the loss in 3.2 innings of relief falling to 3-2.

SEMO jumped out on top early as they scored three runs in the first inning against EIU starter Tyler Kehrer. Nick Harris and Matt Wagner each had RBI singles in the frame and Trenton Moses added a sacrifice fly.

Kehrer allowed one more run in the third inning before being lifted for reliever Brian Morrell. Morrell would finish the game allowing one run on four hits and striking out eight in seven innings of work. He improved to 3-1 on the year. The only run he allowed was on a double steal in the top of the fifth in which Wagner stole second base and Harris stole home.

“After getting pounded in game one yesterday (16-7), I couldn't be prouder of the guys,” EIU head coach Jim Schmitz said. “We haven't been able to bounce back like this until now, when we desperately needed it. This was an unbelievable series win after game one.

"Brian Morrell was the key. We took him out [of the game] yesterday knowing we could need him today. I can't say enough about him. We wanted three or four innings and he goes and gives us seven solid. And Brett Nommensen had such a big hit in the ninth to setup the win. Facer delivers four RBIs and gets the game-winning hit. He did something we've been working on, 'the base-hit approach,' shooting the ball through the left side. If Morrell doesn't do what he did, there's no chance. But based on yesterday, I've call this a great comeback to get two wins. And maybe that's what we needed going forward.”

The Panthers cut into the lead with one run in the third and two more in the fifth. Facer had a two-run single in the fifth while Nommensen had an RBI double in the third.

Nommensen led EIU at the plate going 3-for-4 while Facer was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. Wagner led SEMO going 3-for-4 and Harris was 2-for-4.