INDIANS FALL IN 11 FRAMES

Southeast Missouri State University baseball coach Mark Hogan was extremely disappointed that his team lost Wednesday.

But Hogan certainly wasn't upset with the way the Indians performed during a thrilling 4-3, 11-inning loss to Arkansas State's Indians on a chilly night at Capaha Park.

ASU improved to 28-9 while Southeast fell to 15-20 after the non-conference loss.

"It was a great college game. The people who saw it really got a treat," said Hogan. "It's a shame we didn't win. But I'm very proud of my club. We had a lot of guys do outstanding jobs."

ASU entered the contest leading the nation in earned-run average with a dazzling 2.52 team ERA. And the visiting Indians showed why as four hurlers were impressive.

But Southeast's Indians also got extremely strong work from five pitchers as they combined for 13 strikeouts.

Starter Talley Haines worked into the fifth before giving up two runs and leaving.

Freshman Lanson DeBrock worked out of a big jam in the fifth by striking out the side and he came out in the seventh.

Another freshman, Dan Huesgen, got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh after ASU had tied the contest at 3-3 against DeBrock. Huesgen worked into the 10th.

Troy Pehle got out of a jam in the 10th before he was saddled with the loss by allowing an unearned run in the 11th. David Michel, the Indians' fifth pitcher, came on in the 11th and got two strikeouts.

"I'm very proud of our pitching," Hogan said. "It has really improved and everybody we throw out there now is doing a good job.

"To keep them to four runs is an outstanding job. At the same time, they held us to three runs. The pitchers on both sides made a lot of great pitches."

Matt Cloud, the fourth ASU hurler, notched the victory with two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed a leadoff single to LaMonte Collier in the bottom of the 11th. Collier was sacrificed to second, but Cloud got the next two hitters to end the game.

"It was really a well-played game overall," said ASU coach Bill Bethea. "Both teams had timely pitching. It's just great to get a win like this on the road."

Southeast's 10-hit attack was led by Collier, who had three hits as he built on his .416 average at the beginning of the night.

Kyle Yount and Lance Craft both added two hits, with Craft belting a home run.

Matt Bryant, batting .374 entering the game, had four of ASU's 11 hits.

Craft's leadoff homer, his second of the season, over the left-field fence in the bottom of the third staked Southeast to a 1-0 lead.

Haines held ASU scoreless until the fifth, when the visitors plated two runs and still had two runners on with nobody out. But DeBrock came on to record three straight strikeouts.

Southeast regained the lead in the sixth. Jeremy Johnson singled and Collier ripped a triple to the center-field fence, tying the game. Yount then delivered a single to make it 3-2.

ASU tied it in the seventh off DeBrock on a sacrifice fly by Todd Rhoades and that's the way things stood until the 11th, although both teams had solid chances to score earlier.

In the 11th, Aaron New ripped a ball that third baseman Yount could not field cleanly. The tough chance was ruled an error.

Justin Fowler singled and then Rhoades walked to load the bases. Pehle struck out Jeff Kelley and then had a 1-2 count on Roman Nigut as it appeared he might escape unscathed. But Nigut -- batting .224 entering the game -- worked the count full and then drew a walk to force in the tie-breaking run.

Michel came on to fan the next two batters, but the damage had been done.

"You hate to lose a game that was this darn good with a walk," said Hogan. "But it was just one of those nights. Arkansas State has a really outstanding club. I have a lot of respect for them."