CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Interstat) — Caleb Klein drove in three runs, including a solo home run, and starter Mason Pennington struck out 11 over six strong innings Friday afternoon to lead Southeast Missouri State to an 8-2 victory over Milwaukee at Capaha Field.

The Redhawks (8-7) broke open a tight game with a four-run sixth inning, overcoming an early two-run deficit to hand the Panthers (2-11) their ninth loss in 10 games.

Milwaukee struck quickly against Pennington. Justin Schmidt led off the game with a single, advanced to third on a Bradyn Horn single and scored on Sean Marion’s sacrifice fly. The Panthers added another run in the third when Schmidt singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and came home on Zach Kibler’s RBI single.

That was all the offense the Panthers could muster against Pennington (1-0), who settled in after the third. The right-hander allowed seven hits and two earned runs while walking two. He recorded at least one strikeout in each of his six innings of work, fanning the side in the second.

Southeast Missouri State broke through against Milwaukee starter Gavin Theis in the fifth. Tank Sims walked, advanced to third on a walk and a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Cal Sullivan’s bases-loaded walk to cut the deficit to 2-1.

The Redhawks seized control an inning later. With one out, Carlos Schrack and Sims delivered back-to-back RBI singles to tie the game and chase Theis. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout, Klein greeted reliever Aiden Fishnick with a two-run single to right field, scoring Sims and Schrack to give Southeast Missouri State a 4-2 lead. The rally continued as Sullivan singled and Jaden Hall followed with an RBI single that also involved a Milwaukee fielding error, allowing Klein to score for a 5-2 advantage.

The most important part of the game was Southeast Missouri State’s four-run sixth inning, which transformed a one-run deficit into a three-run lead. The rally, keyed by Klein’s two-run single, capitalized on timely hitting and a Milwaukee pitching change, ultimately deciding the contest.

Pennington, the top star for the Redhawks, earned the win. Jackson Kranawetter provided 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three to close out the victory. Ranard Grace recorded one out in the seventh.

Southeast Missouri State added two unearned runs in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Brett Kettering, and Klein capped the scoring with his solo homer to left-center in the eighth.

Horn led Milwaukee’s 10-hit attack, going 4 for 5 with a double. Schmidt had three hits and scored both Panther runs. Theis (0-2) took the loss, surrendering five runs, four earned, on six hits over 5 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out five.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southeast Missouri State 5, Milwaukee 2. The Redhawks’ ELO probability to win was 76.30%.

The teams continue their three-game series Saturday.