Indians fall short in improbable title bid

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University nearly pulled off the improbable.

But in the end, it was Jacksonville State that carried off the Ohio Valley Conference's ultimate baseball prize.

The Gamecocks from Alabama outlasted the Indians on Saturday to win the league tournament title and capture an NCAA Division I regional berth for the first time in school history.

Southeast, which lost in Wednesday's opening round, battled all the way out of the loser's bracket and handed JSU its first tournament loss, 7-6 in 11 innings to begin play Saturday.

That forced the decisive championship game of the six-team, double-elimination event. The Gamecocks had their way in this one, using five runs in the first inning as the springboard to a 5-1 victory.

"It's a shame we couldn't pull it off, but what a great performance by our guys," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad finishes with a 29-28 record. "We took it to the wire and we don't have any regrets. I couldn't be any prouder of this bunch.

"But you have to give Jacksonville State credit. They've got a terrific team, and it was just a fabulous display of Division I baseball by both teams today."

The fifth-seeded Indians won three straight after a first-round loss to Eastern Illinois, including Saturday's thrilling extra-inning affair.

But in the final, winner-take-all contest, JSU senior right-hander Bobby Wynns was simply too tough. The tournament's most valuable player, Wynns (9-6) pitched eight shutout innings to give him 15 scoreless innings in the tourney. Against Southeast, Wynns allowed eight hits, struck out three and walked none.

"He was great. To throw 100 pitches or whatever he did Wednesday, and then to come back like that today. ... They're a great team and they deserve to go to the tournament," Southeast third baseman Gary Gilbert said.

Wynns said he didn't have nearly his best stuff, but it was more than good enough.

"I didn't have a whole lot, but I knew we had to get some innings out of me," Wynns said. "It's always nice to get an early lead."

Southeast actually outhit JSU (31-27) 10-5 in the finale, but the Gamecocks used four of those hits in the first inning -- along with a costly Southeast error -- to do all their damage off Anthony Maupin, who probably should have escaped the opening frame down only 1-0 or 2-0 at the most, although all five runs were earned.

While Wynns was strong, Maupin (8-7) turned in a fairly incredible performance of his own. After finishing Saturday's opener with three hitless innings to get the win, the junior right-hander started the finale and went all eight innings, allowing just one hit after the first. He struck out six and walked one. In the first game, he fanned three and walked two.

"Maupin threw fabulous. What a courageous performance," Hogan said. "But Wynns was also great. Both guys have the heart of a champion, and you just had two teams that wouldn't quit."

Said Maupin, who threw a total of 138 pitches Saturday: "I just had to keep going. We didn't have that many pitchers. I just tried to treat it like I would a rain delay."

Southeast finally scored off reliever C.R. Palmer in the ninth on Gilbert's RBI double, but it was not nearly enough. Gilbert, left fielder Eric Horstman, shortstop Ernie Bracamonte and second baseman Bo Jenkins all had two his.

The highlights for the Indians Saturday came in an opener that might end up being overshadowed by the title contest, although it was a true classic as both squads staged late rallies.

"It's the best game I've ever been a part of," Gilbert said.

Gilbert's two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh put Southeast -- which led 3-0 after one inning -- ahead 5-4.

JSU came back with a two-run eighth to go up 6-5, and Southeast was down to its final out in the ninth. But Jenkins bounced a single through the left side to score center fielder Frankie Montiel with the tying run.

Southeast then won it in the 11th. Keith Wollis, a late-inning replacement at first base, walked and went to second on Gilbert's sacrifice. Wollis was at third with two outs when Jenkins laid down a bunt that he beat out for a single to score Wollis and force one more game.

The Indians outhit JSU 19-10 in the opener. Gilbert and Montiel both had four hits, and Jenkins had three. Gilbert delivered three RBIs.

Southeast starter Mike Fitch gave the Indians 7 1/3 solid innings, allowing eight hits and six runs. Brad Smith, the OVC's premier reliever who saved Friday's win over Eastern Kentucky, worked 2/3 of an inning but could not continue because of lingering elbow problems, which brought on Maupin.

Gilbert, Horstman, Bracamonte, Montiel and pitcher Derek Herbig made the 13-man all-tournament team.

Gilbert batted .522 and led the tournament with 10 RBIs; Bracamonte hit .500 and played stellar defense; Horstman hit .455 and made several spectacular catches; Montiel batted .400; and Herbig pitched a complete game, 6-1 win over Austin Peay on Thursday.

"We battled hard, yet at the same time it's disappointing to come up short," Horstman said.

Also on the all-tournament squad from Jacksonville State were Wynns, Robby Goodson, Bobby Hicks and Jason Horn. Goodson led the tourney with two homers, including one Saturday.

Rounding out the all-tournament team were Samford's Matt Alling and Eric Hollis, and Eastern Kentucky's Chris Clark and Will Whisenant.