INDIANS FINISH HOME SCHEDULE WITH 11-0 ROMP

A momentum-building series sweep, a gratifying pitching performance and a storybook finish.

All were factors in an 11-0 Senior Day romp by Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team over Ohio Valley Conference rival Tennessee Tech at Capaha Field Sunday afternoon.

Completing the three-game sweep, the Indians (33-14) roughed up Tech pitching for three home runs, including a grand slam by Vern Hatton, to set up a big weekend series with OVC leader Eastern Illinois.

Although Southeast, firmly entrenched in second place at 14-4, cannot overtake undefeated Eastern Illinois (17-0), there are other matters to consider.

Southeast coach Mark Hogan said, "It's an important series next weekend. It'll be the prelude to the (OVC) tournament and I'm sure all eyes will be on Charleston (Ill.) to see who comes out on top. At the same time, we need to keep our club intact and moving forward."

The Indians, winners of eight straight, got an outstanding outing from senior right-hander Tommy Thomas. Thomas (4-7) has struggled at times this season, but looked sharp against the Golden Eagles. He pitched seven innings, allowed five hits, struck out nine -- including five in a row during one stretch -- and walked one.

"Tommy was dominating," said Hogan. "It was a real uplifting thing for our whole club to see him go out and throw the way he's capable. It didn't surprise me."

On his best effort in recent weeks, Thomas said, "It felt good, it felt real good. It was like I got a thousand pounds lifted off my shoulders.

"Today being Senior Day and all, the team came out with some extra juice and really picked me up."

Denver Stuckey got the Southeast offense untracked early with a three-run blast to left field in the second inning. Stuckey's fifth homer of the season followed hits by Hatton and Tristen McDonald to send the Indians up 3-0.

In the third inning, Clemente Bonilla, Zach Borowiak and Jeff Bourbon singled to load the bases. With Tech reliever Doug Vincent in for starter Mike Fessler, Hatton greeted Vincent with his sixth homer an opposite field shot to right-center to clear the bases and give the Indians a 7-0 cushion.

Southeast added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings and two in the eighth to complete the rout.

The run in the seventh frame had a special significance.

Senior catcher Bourbon, in his last appearance as an Indian at Capaha Field, hammered a towering solo homer -- his sixth -- to left-center in his final at-bat.

At or near the top in several Southeast career offensive categories, Bourbon said, "It's been a great career. I couldn't ask for anything more, especially to go out like that. It's kind of an exclamation point on the end of a great year."

Bourbon, Hatton, McDonald and Brian Hopkins led the 11-hit Southeast attack with two hits each. Bonilla (1-for-3) remained the OVC batting leader with a sizzling .407 average.

Indian pitchers Mark Frazier and Andy Davidson, in relief of Thomas, kept Tech off the board with strong work. Frazier allowed one hit in one inning while Davidson came on to strike out the side in the ninth.

Tech fell to 25-27 overall and 9-9 in the OVC.