CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (4/5/16) – The Arkansas State baseball team pushed the go-ahead run across the plate in the top of the eighth inning, but a pinch-hit home run by Chris Osborne gave Southeast Missouri a 4-2 victory Tuesday night at Capaha Field in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

A-State (13-15) took a 2-1 advantage over the Redhawks (21-8) in the top of the eighth inning after Jake Bakamus walked to lead off the inning. Bakamus stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Matt Burgess single with two outs in the frame.

However, the lead was short-lived after Arkansas State went to Tanner Ring for a two-inning save. Ring got a fly out to begin the bottom of the eighth, but a walk and single later SEMO had runners on the corners. The Red Wolves thwarted a safety-squeeze bunt attempt when Ring pounced on the attempt and threw the runner trying to score out at the plate. Southeast Missouri quickly took the momentum back when pinch-hitter Chris Osborne laced a three-run homer over the right-field fence to give the home team a 4-2 advantage.

Neil Lambert and Ty White reached in the top of the ninth inning to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Garrett Rucker flew out to left-center field to end the game as SEMO extended the nation's longest winning streak to 11 games.

Justin Murphy picked up the win for Southeast Missouri State after tossing 1.1 innings out of the bullpen and allowing no runs on two hits. Ring took the loss for the Red Wolves.

Both starters were fantastic as Bryan Ayers went six innings and allowed just one run (earned) on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts to tie a career high. SEMO's Jacob Lawrence went 6.2 innings and allowed just one run (earned) on five hits with three walks and five punch outs. Zachary Patterson struck out the side in the seventh inning in only his third appearance of the year for A-State.

Offensively, Burgess and Joe Schrimpf led the visitors with two hits apiece and one RBI each. Southeast Missouri was led by Garrett Gandolfo's three hits and Osborne's three RBIs.

Southeast Missouri struck first in the game with a solo home run by Dan Holst over the right-field fence with two outs in the bottom of the third. The Red Wolves responded quickly in the top of the fourth with back-to-back doubles by Burgess and Schrimpf that evened the score at 1-1.

Arkansas State returns to action April 8-10 for a three-game league series against No. 28 South Alabama.  First pitch Friday night from Stanky Field in Mobile, Ala., is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., while Saturday's game is set for a 6:30 p.m. start time as well. Sunday's series finale will begin at 1 p.m.