Redhawk Roundup, Apr. 23: Tennis wins second consecutive conference tournament

Southeast Missouri State tennis (17-2) is heading back to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Ohio Valley Conference tournament for the second consecutive year, defeating second-seeded SIU-Edwardsville in a 4-2 victory in Paducah, Ken.

With the win, the Redhawks tied their program record for most wins in a season at 17. Additionally, the 2023 season marked the first time that the program has swept the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament slates, with the team’s lone two losses coming against Missouri of the Southeastern Conference and Austin Peay of the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Teona Velkoska earned her 15th consecutive singles win to push the Redhawks past the Cougars, facing Caitlyn Sporing in the No. 6 singles position with the conference crown on the line.

OVC Player of the Year Daniela Hlacikova worked to win the Redhawks wins on both the singles and doubles courts, partnering with Velkoska with the two earning three of four points in the win for the Redhawks.

Southeast Missouri State now awaits the NCAA’s Selection Announcement, set to air at 5 p.m. CT on Monday, May 1.

__Baseball__

The Redhawks (22-19) dropped their first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season on Sunday, falling 7-6 against Morehead State (24-14) in the rubber match of a three-game series on the road.

Southeast Missouri State opened the series with a 13-6 loss on Friday before rebounding with an 11-9 victory on Saturday afternoon. In a back-and-forth game three, however, a ninth-inning rally came up just short as the Redhawks scored two of the three runs necessary to extend the game, losing 7-6.

The Redhawks took the first lead of the game at 1-0 in the first inning before Morehead State responded with four unanswered runs through the sixth inning. A three-run seventh and a two-run ninth almost got the Redhawks back into the matchup, but Morehead State’s Joe Rotkis held on for his second save of the season.

Shortstop Peyton Leeper notched a game-high three hits, while Jevon Mason’s two hits drove in two RBIs for the Redhawks. Designated hitter Danny Sperling scored twice while driving in two runs on a hit and a walk.

Leeper, Mason and Sperling all hit home runs in the loss, with Jevon Mason hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning to bring the Redhawks within a run.

Redhawks starter Haden Dow pitched 5.0 innings in the loss, allowing four hits, two walks, a hit-by-pitch and earning three runs, striking out eight batters. Eddie White earned the loss in relief, pitching 1.1 innings while allowing two hits and two earned runs.

The Redhawks next host Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, meeting for the second time this year after the Redhawks dropped a weekday matchup in Carbondale, Ill. by an 8-5 margin.