INDIANS' BATS TEAR INTO BILLIKENS 13-1

ST. LOUIS -- Southeast Missouri State University banged out 15 hits, including a grand slam by Tristen McDonald, and took advantage of six St. Louis University errors as the Indians rolled to a 13-1 victory Tuesday, their fifth straight triumph.

Southeast (16-8), which led just 1-0 after three innings, broke the game open with four runs in the fourth as it made a winner of starter Tommy Thomas. Southeast extended its lead to 8-0 with a single run in the fifth and two in the sixth. McDonald's blast came in the a five-run eighth inning and provided Southeast's final runs on the day.

Thomas (2-5), who had pitched in tough luck previously this season, struck out six batters in five innings of work, allowing four hits and walking no one.

Brandon Smith and Andy Davidson followed with effective stints. Smith allowed two hits in three shutout innings and Davidson one hit in pitching the ninth, although he did give up SLU's lone run. The trio combined for 11 strikeouts.

Clemente Bonilla, the Ohio Valley Conference's batting leader, went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. Brad Beatty enjoyed a 3-for-5 game while McDonald, who finished with five RBIs, joined Denver Stuckey and Zach Borowiak with two hits apiece. Jeff Bourbon added two RBIs.

The Indians chased Zach Placzek, the first of four Billiken pitchers, in the fourth. Placzek (0-2) allowed nine hits and five runs, all earned, in 3 2/3 innings.