Indians blitz Morehead State for OVC doubleheader sweep

Records fell in abundance Saturday -- and Southeast Missouri State University continued to batter the bottom feeders of Ohio Valley Conference baseball.

The Indians set or tied three school records and piled up 34 hits -- including six home runs, seven doubles and one triple -- during a doubleheader sweep of visiting Morehead State, romping 11-4 in the nine-inning opener and 22-8 in the seven-inning finale.

More than 900 fans on Parents' Day at Capaha Field saw the Indians improve to 27-17 overall and 11-5 in the OVC as they stayed on the heels of Austin Peay (11-4-1) and Tennessee Tech (10-4) in the battle for the regular-season title.

MSU fell to 14-29 and 5-12 and remained seventh in the eight-team OVC. Last weekend, Southeast outscored last-place Tennessee-Martin 43-8 during a three-game sweep. The Indians have won six straight conference games.

"We're doing our job, and I like the position we're in," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said of the OVC race.

The Indians and Eagles close their three-game series at 1 p.m. today. It will be Senior Day as Southeast concludes its home schedule.

"There would be nothing better than to win our final home game," senior third baseman Denver Stuckey said.

Stuckey and senior shortstop Zach Borowiak both set significant Southeast career records Saturday.

Stuckey stole two bases in each game, giving him 48 for his career and passing Kerry Robinson, who stole 46 bases at Southeast.

"Any time you're mentioned in the same breath as Kerry Robinson, it's an honor," Stuckey said.

Borowiak got career double No. 66 to pass another Southeast great, Jeremy Johnson, for the record.

And tying a single-season Southeast record was senior left-handed pitcher Tim Alvarez, who notched his 12th victory in the finale.

"I'm sure it will mean a lot more to me five or 10 years from now," said Alvarez, who entered the contest tied for first nationally in wins. "Right now I just want to help the team keep winning."

Winning was no problem Saturday as the Indians scored early and often against a depleted MSU pitching staff.

Eight Southeast players had at least three hits, and Southeast's six seniors who batted combined to go 25-for-44, with 23 RBIs and six home runs.

Stuckey was 5-for-6 with two doubles and five runs scored while Borowiak was 5-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs. Borowiak got his 12th and 13th homers of the season in the second game when he went 4-for-4 and drove in six runs.

"It was a good day for everybody," Borowiak said. "The big thing is we just have to keep winning."

Senior left fielder Brian Hopkins went 4-for-8 with five RBIs and his OVC-leading 17th homer of the year.

Senior catcher Tristen McDonald went 4-for-6 with three RBIs.

Senior designated hitter/right fielder Dave Lawson, often overshadowed by Southeast's other talented seniors, was 4-for-8 with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs.

"The team is full of great players, and it feels good to contribute any way I can," Lawson said.

Senior second baseman Justin Christian homered in each game -- he now has 12 -- and added three hits, along with three RBIs and five runs.

Junior center fielder Seth Moulton had three hits and three RBIs, and junior first baseman Gary Gilbert added three hits.

Junior right-hander Bill Clayton (4-2) extended his string of strong performances by throwing seven solid innings in the opener. He scattered seven hits and allowed four runs, with three strikeouts and four walks, to record his fourth straight victory.

"When I was 0-2 I was wondering how things would go for me," Clayton said with a smile. "But things have come around for me. My control has gotten a lot better."

Alvarez (12-3) was able to get his record-tying 12th win despite a struggle that saw him allow 11 hits and eight runs in five innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. But the Indians' 22-run barrage made it easy for Alvarez.

"For as many times as he's pitched great and we didn't give him much support, it was nice we could pick him up for a change," Hogan said.

Southeast also got two hitless innings in each game from senior right-hander James Beever and sophomore left-hander Jon Nourie, pitchers who have been up and down but could be key down the stretch for the Indians.

"It was good to see Nourie pitch like that, and Beever looked good," Hogan said. "And Clayton continues to throw well."

MSU had 18 hits, led by Kevin Bryant with four. Roy Gentry, Matt Morris and Lance Seasor all homered for the Eagles.

mmishow@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 132