Indians get back for sweep, thump EIU

Southeast breaks loose for 22-9 victory over Eastern Illinois.

By Marty Mishow ~ Southeast Missourian

Call it payback.

Southeast Missouri State University took out its frustrations from Friday's doubleheader sweep at the hands of Eastern Illinois by destroying the visiting Panthers 22-9 Saturday afternoon.

More than 900 fans at Capaha Field saw the Indians bang out 23 hits -- including five home runs -- as they salvaged the finale of the three-game Ohio Valley Conference series.

The Indians improved to 19-13 overall and 4-4 in OVC play while the Panthers fell to 17-19 and 4-5.

"We just wanted to put yesterday behind us," said left fielder Brian Hopkins, who led the offensive assault with a pair of monster home runs to dead center field, which is 400 feet from home plate. "Today we played like the team we know we are."

After being limited to just 11 hits in 62 at-bats Friday, the Indians batted nearly .500 as a team Saturday as they went 23-for-48. Every Southeast starter had at least one hit and even a pair of seldom-used reserves, freshman Jason Theodorakas and junior-college transfer Ryan Dinkleman, recorded the first hits of their Southeast careers.

"It was just a really good day all around for us, and I was really proud of our club to come back in this kind of fashion," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "The best thing we could do is get back on the field."

After two suspenseful games Friday, the Indians took virtually all of the drama out of Saturday's contest in the bottom of the first inning after EIU had briefly jumped on top with a run in the top of the first.

The Indians sent 14 batters to the plate during a first-inning explosion that featured 10 runs on seven hits, including a two-run homer by Hopkins. Second baseman Justin Christian and third baseman Denver Stuckey both had two hits in a frame that saw EIU starter Jared Marshall removed without recording an out.

"This feels so much better today," said shortstop Zach Borowiak. "It felt good to break out like this, after the way we struggled at the plate yesterday."

Borowiak went 4-for-6, including his seventh home run of the season. He drove in five runs and scored three times.

Christian was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Stuckey went 3-for-7 as he tied a school record for at-bats in a game. Eight other players in the history of Southeast baseball also have had seven official at-bats in one contest.

Hopkins' two hits were both homers as he pushed his team-leading total to nine, including six in the last eight games. Hopkins, batting a team-high .380, had three RBIs and scored three times.

"I'm just happening to see the ball good right now," Hopkins said, then added with a laugh, "The ball might have been carrying good to center field today."

Center fielder Seth Moulton had two hits, including his fifth homer of the season, and three RBIs.

Designated hitter David Lawson and right fielder Aaron Fangman both added two hits while first baseman Gary Gilbert got his second homer of the year to go along with three RBIs.

The beneficiary of all that offense was junior right-hander Bill Clayton, a transfer from Southern Illinois who recorded his first Southeast victory. Clayton (1-2) allowed nine hits and five runs in six innings. He struck out six and walked four.

"Basically the offense kind of carried me. I tip my cap to the hitters," Clayton said. "It was nice to win, although I didn't have real good stuff."

Stan Skakalski allowed four runs -- three earned -- and three hits in two innings. He struck out three and walked one. Stuckey finished up with a perfect ninth in just his second pitching performance of the season. He struck out one.

Marshall (4-2) was charged with five runs and five hits without retiring a batter. EIU used seven pitchers in the game.

Aaron Shelbourne drilled his ninth homer of the year to pace the Panthers' 12-hit attack.

After going ahead 10-1 with the huge first inning, Southeast padded a 10-4 lead with two runs in the third and then turned the contest into a total laugher with a seven-run fourth that made it 19-4. The Indians added three in the eighth to round out their scoring.

With the victory well in hand in the late innings, Hogan was able to give some little-used bench players at-bats. In addition to Theodorakas and Dinkleman getting their first Southeast hits, junior-college transfer Wade Hansford recorded his fourth hit of the season.

"It's always good to give those guys a chance to play," Hogan said. "They work hard like everybody else and it's nice when they get a chance to get in the game."

The Indians will now face 11 straight games on the road, beginning with a two-game non-conference series at Kansas State Tuesday and Wednesday. The Wildcats are 12-24 overall and 2-12 in the Big 12 Conference.