BASEBALL INDIANS SETTLE FOR SPLIT

After Southeast Missouri State University's baseball game against Missouri Baptist was rained out Tuesday, the Indians were forced to do all of this week's game preparation for their key Ohio Valley Conference series this weekend at Middle Tennessee on Wednesday against Memphis at Capaha Park.

After Memphis took the opener of the doubleheader 5-3, Southeast rebounded in the nightcap and beat the Tigers 3-0 -- and maintained some of its recently-gained momentum.

Southeast moved to 18-22 on the season and will enter this weekend as the winner of 10 of its last 14 games. Memphis, a member of Conference USA, is now 14-24.

Southeast coach Mark Hogan said it was important to avoid a sweep by Memphis. The Tigers swept a doubleheader against Southeast at Memphis in the Indians' first two games of the season.

"I thought it was critical for us to bounce back and win the second ballgame. We've played awfully well lately and you don't want to get swept in a doubleheader . . . especially when its the only games you're playing before a big conference series," said Hogan.

Southeast is currently tied with Middle Tennessee for second in the OVC at 9-6, behind Tennessee Tech (13-5). The three-game weekend series with the Blue Raiders is crucial for the Indians because the top two teams in the conference in the regular season earn a first-round bye in the OVC Tournament.

"(The first round bye) is huge," said Hogan. "If you're sitting there (with a No. 1 or No. 2 seed), then you're going to play the team that just threw their ace. The advantage is huge for the first- and second-place teams. This will be a typical SEMO-Middle Tennessee battle."

In the opener, Memphis scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings and added two in the fifth to jump out to a 5-0 lead.

Southeast finally got on the board in the fifth, scoring two runs. With two outs, Steve Goodman reached on an error and left-handed freshman Jeremy Johnson, who went 2-for-3 in both games as his average continues to rise, followed with a home run to right to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Southeast added a run in the seventh. Lance Craft led off with a bunt single, stole second and later scored on Shawn Pemberton's groundout.

Memphis' Dave Erwin went all seven innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits while striking out four. Erwin improved to 2-4 on the season; both of his wins have come against Southeast.

Talley Haines (1-3) took the loss. He went 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on six hits.

Three pitchers combined to shut out Memphis in the nightcap. Jason Swearingen (4-3) started the game and went four innings. Troy Pehle threw the fifth and Dan Huesgen closed the game and earned his second save.

Southeast scored two runs in the first inning and added another in the third.

Goodman hit the first pitch of the game for a double down the right-field line. The next batter, Johnson, hit a nubber to pitcher Russ Bratton, and Bratton threw the ball off Johnson and Goodman came around to score from second.

LaMonte Collier then singled, moving Johnson to third. Mike Miller, who went 2-for-3 in both games, followed with a single off the third baseman's glove to score Johnson.

In the third inning, Miller led off with a double and scored on Darin Kinsolving's fly ball out.

Southeast will play two games Saturday and one Sunday in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Saturday's opener will start at 2, as will Sunday's nine inning game.