Indians complete sweep of Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Forgive the Arkansas Razorbacks if they don't want to see Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team for a while.

The Indians completed a series sweep of the Razorbacks with a 5-4 victory Wednesday.

Southeast improved its record to 30-16 as the Indians posted their third consecutive season of 30 or more wins. Arkansas of the high-profile Southeastern Conference fell to 28-23.

"I'm very proud of the guys. It was a real character win for us," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad beat Arkansas 5-1 on Tuesday. "Win or lose I was going to feel really good about what we did the last couple of days."

Southeast ace Brad Purcell (10-2) allowed six hits and two runs (one earned) over the first seven innings as he broke a tie with teammate Brandon Smith for the Ohio Valley Conference lead in victories.

Smith earned his first save of the season, although he gave up four hits and two runs over the final two innings. Smith got a strikeout with the tying run at second base in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the contest.

The Indians had nine hits, led by a 4-for-5 performance from leadoff batter Denver Stuckey, who remained red-hot. Stuckey led off the game with a home run -- his fifth of the season -- and he has hit safely to begin the contest in nine of his last 10 games.

Tristen McDonald belted his team-leading seventh homer of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth inning that gave the Indians a 4-1 lead.

Clemente Bonilla's RBI single in the seventh made it 5-1 and the Indians were able to hold off a late Arkansas rally. Bonilla's 216th career hit moved him into third place in Southeast history.

Southeast's defense sparkled as the Indians turned four double plays and did not commit an error.