Western Kentucky’s baseball team secured a series victory over Southeast Missouri with a doubleheader split on Saturday at Nick Denes Field.

The Hilltoppers fell to the Redhawks, 8-7, in Game 1 before securing an 11-8 victory in Game 2 to clinch the four-game weekend series and move to 5-3 overall.

SEMO struck early with a two-run homer in the first inning of the opener, adding another pair of runs in the second to build a 4-0 lead in the top of the frame; the Redhawks extended the margin to 7-0 in the top of the third.

WKU answered in the bottom half, plating a run on a Lane Arroyos double to right center to make it 7-1.

After three quick outs in the top of the fourth, WKU erupted for five runs in the bottom of the frame; Reid Howard came home on an Austin Haller single to left before a sacrifice fly by Logan Luckett plated Ian Nguyen and narrowed the Tops’ deficit to four. Arroyos singled to left center to drive in runs by Haller and Hayden Robbins, and JP Acosta singled to right center to plate Hayden Nazarenus and bring the Tops to within one, 7-6, entering the fifth.

SEMO responded with a homer in the top fifth to push its lead back out to 8-6.

The Tops once again narrowed the deficit to one, 8-7, off an Acosta double down the right-field line to drive in Nazarenus.

Despite rallying from a seven-run deficit, WKU left four runners on base in the final three and half innings and was unable to even the count late, falling 8-7.

Gage Olsen tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for the Tops, allowing just two hits with eight strikeouts.

Arroyos finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, Acosta totaled two RBIs, Haller recorded two hits with one RBI and Nazarenus scored three runs.

In the nightcap, SEMO jumped in front early off a sac-bunt in the first before the Hilltoppers responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame; Camden Ross doubled to right center to drive in two runs and give the Tops a 3-2 lead entering the second.

In the bottom of the second, Kyle Hayes blasted a three-run homer to left center to give WKU an early 6-1 lead entering the third.

The Redhawks responded with a pair of runs in the next two innings before a Ross single plated Hayes and gave the Tops a 7-3 lead at the end of four.

An Arroyos single to right drove in two runs and gave WKU a 9-3 advantage after five.

SEMO managed a five-run sixth inning to narrow the WKU lead to 9-8, but a groundout by Luckett to plate Ross and an RBI single by Haller gave WKU a three-run cushion, 11-8, entering the seventh inning.

Zach Lyles closed the final two innings without allowing a run to secure the victory.

With the win, WKU improved to 5-3 overall on the season

WKU travels for its first road contest of the season and opens midweek play at Kentucky on Tuesday. First pitch from Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington is set for 3 p.m. CT with the game streaming live on SEC Network+.