INDIANS CLAIM CRUCIAL SWEEP

Lanson DeBrock, a freshman pitcher out of Notre Dame High, entered a crucial game at a crucial time.

DeBrock, looking confident beyond his years, proceeded to shut down visiting Ohio Valley Conference foe Eastern Illinois in the second game of Southeast Missouri State University's doubleheader Sunday at Capaha Park and earn his first collegiate victory.

Southeast's Darrin Kinsolving, a freshman from East Prairie, singled in the game-winning run in the seventh inning as the Indians won the nightcap 6-5.

Behind a grand slam and an RBI triple by Jeremy Johnson, the Indians won the opener 8-4.

The second game was crucial -- Southeast entered its three-game series with Eastern Illinois, which began with an 11-10 win Saturday night, in last place in the OVC. By winning the nightcap and completing the sweep, the Indians improved to 6-6 in the conference and catapulted to the middle of the standings.

And DeBrock entered the game at a crucial time -- after starter David Michel struggled and allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings, DeBrock entered the game with the Indians trailing 4-2 and blanked the Panthers until the sixth.

DeBrock (1-1) threw 5 and 1/3 innings, allowing just one run on six hits while striking out three.

"I'm not really a reliever, but that's what they called for and I'm glad that I could come in and shut them down -- I knew I could," said DeBrock.

Although it was DeBrock's first win, Southeast coach Mark Hogan said that DeBrock has pitched well all season.

"Lanson's a very gutty guy, he's got good stuff, and his performance really wasn't a surprise to us," said Hogan. "He inherited a tough situation down 4-2, and shut that inning down. And then he put up goose eggs for four innings and that was really big for us."

Southeast (11-18) led 2-1 after one inning. The Indians' LaMonte Collier had an RBI double and Kinsolving drew a bases-loaded walk in the first.

The Panthers (10-18) added three runs in the second as Michel struggled. Southeast came back to tie the game at 4-4 in the fourth as Steve Goodman scored on a wild pitch and Johnson scored on a balk by Jeff Kober.

After Eastern Illinois regained the lead, 5-4, by scoring a run in the sixth, Southeast tied the game again as Johnson drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Collier.

With the score tied at 5-5, DeBrock held the Panthers in the seventh. Southeast then won the game as Lance Craft was hit by a pitch, Brad Hoehner bunted Craft to second and Kinsolving came through with the big hit.

"This was a must-weekend for us," said Hogan. "3-6 (in the OVC) wasn't getting it and for us to be able to sweep a good ballclub here this weekend was really big for us."

Batting .209, Johnson entered Sunday's doubleheader with the lowest mark among Southeast regulars.

Johnson, a freshman from Tamms, Ill., showed his potential by going 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a run scored in the opener. He went 2-for-2 and scored three runs in the nightcap.

With the game scoreless in the second inning, a single by Brad Hoehner scored Brian Pepper. Johnson hit the grand slam later in the frame to make the score 5-0.

After the Panthers battled back to make the score 5-4, the Indians added three insurance runs in the sixth. Hoehner hit a two-run homer with two outs and Johnson later added an RBI triple.

Dave Siboda (2-4) earned the win. He went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out three. Talley Haines recorded his second save of the season.

Southeast's next game will be Tuesday with a 7 p.m. non-conference contest at Missouri.