SEMO baseball wins first NCAA regional game in over 20 years
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KBSI) – Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks baseball survives and advances in NCAA Regionals for the first time in more than 20 years.
The #4 ranked Southeast Missouri (35-26) took down #2 Louisiana Tech (45-19) in the third game of the 2024 NCAA Regionals with a final score of 9-3 in Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville Ark.
This victory for the Redhawks was the teams first NCAA Regional victory since 2002 when the RedHawks beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Along with being the first NCAA Regional victory in 20 years, its also the first Regional victory for SEMO baseball Head Coach Andy Sawyers since becoming the RedHawks head coach in the 2017 season.
The Redhawks broke the game wide open in the 4th inning when Senior outfielder Josh Cameron hit a grand slam deep to left center. It was Cameron’s 16th home run of the season, and a big spot for it.
The slam would count as the sixth grand slam of the season for the Redhawks baseball team, and their first since March.
THE AURA ‼️‼️‼️ @d1baseball pic.twitter.com/1uYo3nFBXs
— SEMO Baseball ⚾️ (@SEMObaseball) June 1, 2024
On the mound to start the day was RHP Brian Strange with a 5-2 record on the year, Strange had yet another incredible start as he went 6.2 innings allowing only three runs on seven hits.
It was also Strange’s longest outing of his career with the RedHawks Baseball team as he also struck out four Bulldogs on the day.
SEMO Baseball isn’t done yet as they will be back in action tomorrow June 2, once again at Baum-Walker Stadium as they take on the loser of tonight’s game between #3 Kansas State (1-0) and #1 Arkansas (1-0) in the winners bracket matchup.
First pitch on June 2 is set for 1 p.m. as the Redhawks play for third place in the NCAA Regional matchup.
