A sweep away from NCAA bid

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Two down and two more to go for Southeast Missouri State University as it shoots for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament title.

The fifth-seeded Indians won their second straight tournament game after falling in the first round, this time rallying past and then holding off fourth-seeded Eastern Kentucky 9-7 Friday in an elimination contest.

So the original six-team field has now been trimmed to a pair of squads, only third-seeded Jacksonville State remaining without a loss. The Indians (28-27) need to beat the Gamecocks (30-26) twice today, beginning at noon, in order to capture the crown and earn an automatic NCAA regional berth.

"It's great. We're in championship Saturday, which is where we wanted to be all along," said Southeast left fielder Eric Horstman, who went 4-for-4 with a home run and four runs scored. "We're just battling. It's do or die now."

Shortstop Ernie Bracamonte, who was 3-for-4, including a homer and three runs driven in, said, "One game at a time. Every game is the biggest game of the season because we're in single elimination, but we feel good."

Southeast got a gritty starting pitching performance from Ryan Forsyth, more strong defense and timely hitting, along with the 11th save of the season from Brad Smith, the OVC's premier reliever who has been battling elbow problems and overcame some anxious moments.

"It was a brilliant game for us. Our club is playing well," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "Who would have thought, with all the injuries we've had, that we'd be playing on the last day for another spot in the regionals."

Forsyth, a spot starter who has been up and down, fell behind 4-1 after three innings and appeared to be on the ropes against the Colonels (34-17), who lead the nation in batting average and runs scored.

But, after giving up six hits in those first three frames, Forsyth did not allow another hit or run before giving way to Smith in the seventh. In 6 2/3 innings, Forsyth (4-2) struck out four while working around eight walks and a hit batter.

"I was shaky early, like usual," said a smiling Forsyth, who has had his share of big moments this year, including a masterful win over powerhouse Oklahoma State. "Eastern Kentucky is a good hitting team. They hit my mistakes early, but I made some adjustments. It feels great."

Said Hogan, "Forsyth gave us every ounce he had. It would have been easy to pick one of the other guys, but we wanted to give them an extra day of rest. Now that's our formula for tomorrow."

Hogan was referring to normal starters Mike Fitch and Anthony Maupin, who both struggled during Wednesday's first-round loss to Eastern Illinois. Fitch will start today's first game, with Maupin going in the finale if the Indians advance.

After Forsyth settled down to keep the Colonels at bay, Southeast's offense got going after being limited to one hit through four innings.

Southeast used four hits in a three-run fifth to tie things. Horstman singled and Bracamonte ripped a two-run homer, tying him for the team lead with eight. Later in the inning, Eric Hoffman had an RBI single with two outs. Hoffman added two of the Indians' 12 hits, including a double.

The Indians went ahead for good in the sixth by scoring four times. With one out, Brent Lawson and Horstman singled. Bracamonte drove in a run with a single for his team-high 51st RBI, then center fielder Frankie Montiel belted his fifth homer, a three-run shot that made it 8-4.

"We've been swinging it well the last few weeks and we finally got going," Bracamonte said.

Forsyth, who threw 140 pitches, was lifted to a standing ovation from the solid contingent of Southeast fans after EKU had runners on first and third with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Smith came on to strike out OVC home run leader Chris O'Dell.

Horstman's leadoff homer in the eighth, his second of the year, put Southeast up 9-4 and that would normally be more than enough for Smith.

But a combination of EKU's potent offense and Smith's health issues made things plenty interesting.

EKU scored three times in the eighth, on three hits, two hit batters and two Smith balks that forced in runs. The Colonels still had runners on first and second with one out when Smith fanned OVC RBI leader Neil Sellers and cleanup batter Chris Clark.

"I went to ask the umpire what I was doing wrong and I thought he was going to throw me out of the game," said a laughing Smith, recalling his somewhat heated exchange with home plate umpire Don Gilmore following the balks.

But it mattered little. Smelling the finish line, Smith worked a perfect ninth -- with two strikeouts -- to extend his school single-season record for saves and also break Southeast's career mark although he is in just his first season.

"My elbow has been bothering me about three weeks now," Smith said. "But once my adrenaline got going, it was great. I love it."

Smith threw a healthy total of 53 pitches in just 2 1/3 innings. Given his elbow troubles, the workhorse Smith was asked if he'd be available for work in possibly two more tournament games.

"With the adrenaline rush, it feels like I could have thrown about 19 more," he said, smiling. "But I'll see how I feel tomorrow."

So will the Indians. Because their season all comes down to what happens today.