CRAFT CAN'T STEAL WIN FOR SEMO

MURRAY, Ky. -- Lance Craft tied a school record by stealing four bases in one game, but his speedy footwork wasn't enough to lift Southeast Missouri State baseball squad over Murray State Sunday.

The Murray Racers overcame a 4-2 deficit with a big fourth inning on the way to a 9-8 home victory at Reagan Field.

The win gave the Racers (10-8, 2-1) the edge in the weekend's three-game series with Southeast (4-11, 1-2) after the squads split a double header Saturday.

The series marked the first Ohio Valley Conference matches of the season for both teams.

Craft notched his first two steals of the game in the first inning. After reaching base on an error, Craft promptly swiped second and third. LaMonte Collier grounded out to short, driving Craft in for Southeast's first run.

The Indians scored twice in the third and once again in the fourth while Murray managed one run each in the second and third innings for a 4-2 Indian advantage.

However, the Racers ripped Indians starting pitcher Jason Swearingen for six runs in the fourth inning to go up 8-4.

Swearingen (1-1) was pulled two-thirds of the through the inning in favor of Dan Huesgen, who surrendered the final Racer run in the seventh.

The Indians closed the gap by scoring three times in the eighth. Craft notched his team's final run in with one out in the ninth by scoring on a wild pitch.

After putting runners on second and third, the Indians were poised to retake the lead. However, Murray closer Billy Freytag got the next two batters out to pick up a save.

Murray starter Todd Hollowell (2-0) worked six innings to claim the win.

Although the Racers managed just one more run than the Indians, the host squad made much better contact with the ball, out-hitting Southeast 13-5.

Murray also managed two homers, a one-run round-tripper in the third inning by second baseman Eddie Doyle and a seventh inning solo shot by right fielder Chad Vrbka.