INDIAN DUO BAFFLES GOVS

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Backed by the brilliant pitching of Jason Swearingen and Ryan Spille -- along with a dramatic home run from Kyle Yount -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team recorded a big doubleheader sweep here Saturday.

The Indians defeated host Austin Peay 5-1 and 1-0 behind complete-game performances from Swearingen and Spille, the aces of their pitching staff.

Southeast thus improved to 19-12 overall and 8-6 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Austin Peay fell to 13-21 overall and 5-9 in the league as the Governors suffered their sixth and seventh consecutive losses.

"These are two really big wins for us," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, who notched his 100th career victory with the Indians. Hogan is now 100-89 in his fourth season at Southeast. "We came down here to sweep them and hopefully we'll get it done."

The third and final game of the series will be played today at 2 p.m.

After Swearingen pitched the 5-1 first-game victory, Yount's solo home run leading off the top of the seventh and final inning of the nightcap lifted the Indians and Spille.

Yount belted the first pitch in the seventh off hard-luck loser George Sherrill over the left-center field fence for his fourth homer of the season.

That was all Spille needed. The lefthanded junior-college transfer continued his brilliant rookie season at Southeast as he improved his record to 6-0. Spille allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Swearingen was just about as effective in the opener as the senior righthander, who holds many of the pitching records at Southeast, improved to 6-2. He allowed four hits and one walk while fanning four. The only run off Swearingen was unearned.

"We got two tremendous pitching performances from Jason and Ryan," Hogan said. "They've been doing it for us all year."

All five Southeast runs in the opener were unearned as the Govs made five errors behind hurler Robert Anderson.

"It was definitely a pitcher's day today," said Hogan.

Southeast had 15 hits in the two games, led by Yount with four and Jeremy Johnson with three.

"We're really starting to play well right now and to get my 100th win with this group of young men is really special," said Hogan.