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CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois freshman outfielder Joseph Duncan reached over the fence in left center to bring back what would have been a three-run home run for Southeast Missouri in the top of the seventh.  EIU then used that momentum to score five runs in the bottom of the seventh during a 9-5 win on Saturday afternoon at Coaches Stadium.  The two teams will play the deciding game in the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
SEMO looked to extend its 5-4 lead in the seventh inning as Ryan Rippee hit a ball to deep left center that Duncan climbed the fence to pull back in for the final out of the inning.  The Redhawks had two base runners on when Rippee hit his blast.
 
EIU used that momentum in the bottom of the frame as they loaded the bases with one out following an infield error.  Caleb Howell made the Redhawks pay with a two-run double down the left field line that gave the Panthers a 6-5 lead.  Howell was 3-for-5 as he now needs two hits to tie Ryan Campbell for the EIU career hits record.
 
EIU added three more runs in the seventh as SEMO used four pitchers in the inning.  Travis Hayes (5-4) took the loss despite allowing only four earned runs.  Demetre Taylor had a sacrifice fly, Howell scored on a wild pitch and Marshawn Taylor was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to plate the final three EIU runs.  Demetre Taylor was 2-for-3 while Marshawn Taylor had three RBI for the game.
 
Chase Thurston (1-0) pitched the final three innings in relief to pick up the win.
 
SEMO opened the games with runs in the first and second against EIU starter Jake Johansmeier.  Garrett Gandolfo had an RBI in the first and Scott Mitchell connected for an RBI single in the second.
 
EIU tied the game in the second with an unearned run and an RBI by Marshawn Taylor.
 
Each team plated a run in the fourth with Mitchell driving home SEMO's run and Marshawn Taylor providing EIU's RBI.  Mitchell was 2-for-3 with three RBI for SEMO.
 
The Redhawks took a two run lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Mitchell and RBI single by Branden Boggetto.  EIU cut the lead to one in the seventh with a Demetre Taylor single.   
 
Brant Valach and Bobby Wenthe both added two hits for EIU.  Gandolfo, Boggetto and Dalton Hewitt had two hits for SEMO.