INDIANS ENTER NCAA TOURNEY; SOUTHEAST SWEEPS SOUTHERN IN PLAY-IN

Southern put up a strong challenge, but there was simply no denying Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians in their quest to pull off a feat that no other men's athletic team in school history had ever accomplished.

Breaking open a close game over the final three innings, the Indians knocked off the Jaguars 10-3 Saturday afternoon in front of more than 1,000 fans on another summer-like day at Capaha Field.

The Indians, who had slipped past Southern 5-4 Friday night, thus captured the best-of-three NCAA play-in series.

And as a result, Southeast earns a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament for the first time ever. The Indians also become the first Southeast men's team to qualify for the NCAA tourney since the school made the move up to Division I in 1991.

"I can't even put into words right now what this means," said an emotional Southeast coach Mark Hogan after receiving a water dousing from his jubilant players. "Playing in the (NCAA) regional will be a lifetime experience for these kids."

Southeast, now 32-22, will find out Monday which regional it will be assigned to. There are eight six-team regionals across the country, with play scheduled to begin Thursday.

"There are 226 Division I baseball teams and now we're one of 48 in the NCAA Tournament," Hogan said. "It's a great thrill, particularly with this ballclub because we're so young (the Indians have only one senior).

"Something like this should do so much for our program. The recruiting doors should swing open on the national level."

Ryan Spille, the Indians' sensational left-hander who was named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year this season, was his usual dominating self Saturday.

The junior had one rough inning, the sixth in which the Jaguars scored three runs on three hits to rally for a 3-3 tie.

But Spille allowed only one hit in the other eight innings combined, finishing with a four-hitter that featured seven strikeouts and four walks. He improved to 11-1, which ties Southeast's single-season record for most victories in a season that had been established by Brian Harper in 1988.

Spille, who earlier in the season broke Southeast's single-season strikeout record -- he now has 128 -- said he wasn't even aware that he had tied the school's win mark.

"I just wanted to help us get to the (NCAA) tournament," said an excited Spille. "This really feels good. At the beginning of the year I had no idea we would do something like this. But the team has just really come together."

Said Hogan of Spille's performance, "Ryan threw just wonderful. He had some trouble in the sixth, but we felt really confident in him because his pitch count was still pretty low."

The Indians had 14 hits, three from both Charlie Marino and Steve Lowe. Marino also drove in two runs. Kyle Yount had two hits and two RBIs.

Catcher Dan Berry, who has split time behind the plate this year and was batting just .216 entering Saturday's game, also gave the Indians a lift by driving in three runs.

"Dan had a big day for us," said Hogan. "All the guys just really came through."

Lincoln Williams had two of Southern's four hits while Alva Thompson homered for the second straight game.

Artis Gordon (4-3) suffered the loss, allowing 12 hits and seven runs (five earned) in eight innings. The Jaguars finished at 31-16.

Southeast, the visiting team on the scoreboard, grabbed a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Darin Kinsolving had an RBI single while Berry drove in a run with a walk.

The Indians went ahead 3-0 in the sixth on Berry's RBI single.

Southern tied it in the bottom of the sixth, the big blow being Thompson's two-run homer that deadlocked the game.

So the Indians found themselves in the same situation as Friday night, when Southern rallied late to tie the contest only to see Southeast answer back in the very next inning.

And that happened again Saturday as the Indians got three in the sixth. With one out, Jeff Bourbon doubled and Yount singled for the tie-breaking run.

"We were able to answer (Southern) both days after they had tied us," said Marino. "I think it all comes down to confidence."

Southeast broke the game wide open by scoring once in the eighth and three times in the ninth.

And when Spille fanned the final batter in the bottom of the ninth, it was time to celebrate.

"This is a tremendous accomplishment for our ballclub," said Hogan. "My assistant coaches (Greg Goff, Mark Wasikowski and Brian Schaefer) have done a great job all year and the players have just been super. They should be really proud of what they've done."