EIU ESCORTS SOUTHEAST TO AN EARLY EXIT

PADUCAH, Ky. -- It was an elimination game that played like a championship contest, but that was of little consolation to Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan.

The look on Hogan's face said it all Thursday afternoon just moments after the Indians' gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Eastern Illinois in the loser's bracket of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament at Brooks Stadium.

"It's painful to finish this way," said Hogan. "To come here and not win a game in the OVC Tournament is tough to take."

But that was the reality of things for the Indians, who despite finishing second in the OVC regular-season standings and being seeded second for the six-team league tourney were bounced from the event after just two games.

Southeast, which lost to Austin Peay 9-4 in a first-round game Wednesday, ends it season with a 34-20 record.

Eastern Illinois, the OVC regular-season champion and No. 1 seed for the tournament, had also suffered a first-round upset, at the hands of Eastern Kentucky. But the Panthers (35-19) will live to fight another day.

The bitterness of the defeat for the Indians notwithstanding, Southeast and EIU put on quite a show in a sharp, well-played contest that reflected the desperate, do-or-die situation for both teams. Not even a rain delay of 82 minutes prior to the start of the second inning could put a damper on things.

"It was just a great game," said EIU coach Jim Schmitz. "You look at the records of these two teams, nobody wanted to go home. Both teams gave it their all."

Neither squad committed an error and hits were at a premium as the pitchers controlled most of the contest.

EIU hurlers Pete Martin and Mike Ziroli combined to limit the Indians to just four hits. Martin went the first 6 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and Southeast's lone run. Ziroli (8-2) worked the final 2 2/3 innings for the victory, giving up two hits.

The Indians got a brilliant performance from Brad Purcell, the Australian who had a solid rookie season after transferring in from the junior-college ranks. But Purcell saved his best work for his most important start of the year, working into the eighth inning. He allowed seven hits and one run.

"Purcell was fantastic," said Hogan. "He and Martin hooked up in a great battle."

Southeast also got fine work from Greg Lunski, the Indians' third pitcher of the game who saved the day -- at least temporarily -- in the top of the eighth.

After Chris Martin singled to lead off the eighth, Hogan replaced Purcell with Jeffrey Hilz. Hilz walked Bret Pignatiello and Keith Laski moved the runners up with a sacrifice.

Lunski then came on and got pinch-hitter Chris Hughes to ground to first base, with Shane Allen easily throwing out Martin at home. Pete Pirman then grounded to short to end the frame and preserve a 1-1 tie.

But Lunski (4-3) would get tagged with the loss as the Panthers broke the deadlock in the ninth. Tim Aurrichio drew a leadoff walk, pinch-runner Danny Jordan was sacrificed to second and scored on Josh Landon's double to the center-field wall.

The Indians had a chance in the bottom of the ninth as Denver Stuckey singled with one out. But Allen's hard-hit ground ball went right to second baseman Landon, who started an easy game-ending double play.

Allen, who drove in the Indians' only run -- and the game's first tally -- with a fifth-inning single, also hit into some tough luck in the seventh when his rocket of a line drive with two on and one out was caught by shortstop Jesse Niehaus and turned into a double play.

"We needed a bounce or a call and it just didn't happen," said Hogan.

Landon, who led the Panthers with three hits, also drove in their first run in the seventh. Pirman led off with a single, Aurrichio reached on an infield single, the runners moved up on a sacrifice and Landon's grounder to short brought home Pirman.

Southeast junior Clemente Bonilla drew three walks, giving him 61 walks for the season to break the OVC single-season record.

Hogan, reflecting briefly on the season, said the Indians can hold their heads high. Despite losing a host of standouts from last year's team that went 37-17 and set a school record for wins, Southeast bounced back with a campaign that netted the program's second-most victories ever.

"We have a lot to be thankful for, but it's hard to realize it right now. That's something for another day," Hogan said. "But getting the second-most wins in school history is nothing to take lightly. I just wish it had been a couple more."