AUSTIN PEAY STUNS SE ACE IN 1ST ROUND

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Todd Pennington's magical year finally hit a snag here Wednesday.

And as a result, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball season has been placed in serious peril.

Pennington, the nation's earned-run average leader, had an uncharacteristic shaky performance as the second-seeded Indians lost to fifth-seeded Austin Peay 9-4 in the opening round of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Brooks Stadium.

The Indians will try to stay alive in the six-team event at noon today as they play an elimination game against top-seeded Eastern Illinois, which also suffered a first-round upset Wednesday, 14-8 at the hands of sixth-seeded Eastern Kentucky.

"This is not a good situation to be in, obviously," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's not insurmountable, but it's not ideal."

Pennington, the Indians' junior right-hander, had dominated OVC competition all season, being named the league's pitcher of the year and compiling an 0.81 ERA.

But perhaps the law of averages finally caught up with Pennington, who had been unbelievably consistent all season. He didn't exactly get battered by Austin Peay, but he did allow nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in six-plus innings.

Pennington, who struck out seven and walked three, saw his record dip to 12-2 as he ERA jumped to 1.33.

"I didn't throw that well and they did a good job putting the ball in play," said a dejected Pennington. "I left the ball up a lot. And I know everybody is going to play their best against us. I knew it would be a tough game."

Said Hogan, "Penny wasn't as sharp as he's been, but you're talking about 16, 17 outings where he's just been unbelievable. You have to give Austin Peay credit. They had a super game and they took Penny out of his game."

Austin Peay coach Gary McClure said it helped the Governors that they had been able to see Pennington once before this season. He shut out the Govs 1-0 last month in Clarksville, Tenn.

"He's a great pitcher. We beat him today, but ask any of our players and they'll say he's a great pitcher," said McClure. "We'd seen him once and we knew when he throws strikes, we have to swing. He also pitched us away, and we had a lot of hits to right."

Southeast (34-19) actually outhit Austin Peay (29-28) 15-12, but the Indians stranded 13 runners and failed to fully capitalize on a host of golden scoring opportunities.

"We had many opportunities and we left a lot of men on base," Hogan said. "We hit the ball hard, but they played good defense."

Tristen McDonald went 4-for-5 to pace the Indians' offense. Jeff Bourbon went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs while Vern Hatton added two hits. Southeast had seven extra-base hits: six doubles and a triple.

Also for the Indians, OVC Player of the Year Clemente Bonilla drew a first-inning walk to tie the league's single-season walks record with 58.

Chris Poynter went 3-for-4 to pace the Govs' offensively. Rusty Moore, Michael Johnson and A.J. Ellis all had two hits. Moore had the game's only home run, his 13th of the season.

Stephen Pew (7-4) pitched 4 1/3 strong innings in relief to pick up the victory after starter Dustin Smith tired in the fifth on the hot day. Pew allowed five hits and one run, with four strikeouts and one walk.

Southeast jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning on Bourbon's RBI single, but that would be the Indians' only lead of the contest.

Austin Peay used three hits and two walks to score three runs in the second, giving the Govs a 3-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth, an unusual play might have prevented the Indians a chance at a big inning.

With one out, Bourbon doubled and Hatton tripled, making it 4-3. But Hatton slid off the bag by several feet and was easily tagged out.

"That was just a hustling play by Vern," Hogan said. "It's one of those things that happens."

McDonald and Shane Allen followed with singles. Pew then replaced Smith and Denver Stuckey walked to load the bases, but Pew fanned Brian Hopkins to end the threat and preserve the Govs' one-run lead.

The Govs gave themselves some breathing room with a three-run sixth that made it 7-3. Southeast got one back in the bottom of the sixth, but a two-run Austin Peay ninth pretty much wiped out any hopes the Indians had of a comeback.

And now the Indians find themselves backed into a corner against a unlikely elimination-game opponent.

"Someone is going to go home that came in here with very high hopes," said Hogan, referring to the Indians and Eastern Illinois.

E. Kentucky 14, E. Illinois 8

The OVC regular-season Panthers (34-19) led 7-1 after four innings, but the Colonels (24-29) scored 13 of the game's final 14 runs to pull off the shocker.

Mike Schneider homered twice and drove in six runs for the Colonels, who also got a home run and five RBIs from Adam Crowder.

EKU had 17 hits off six EIU hurlers.

TOURNAMENT GLANCE

Wednesday

E. Kentucky 14, E. Illinois 8

Austin Peay 9, SE Missouri 4

Tenn. Tech 8, Murray St. 3

Thursday

Noon -- SE Missouri vs. E. Illinois

3:30 p.m. -- E. Kentucky vs. Murray St.

7 p.m. -- Austin Peay vs. Tenn. Tech

Friday

Noon -- TBD

3:30 p.m. -- TBD

7 p.m. -- TBD

Saturday

1 p.m. -- Championship

4 p.m. -- Championship (if necessary)