INDIANS HAMMER WAY INTO OVC FINAL; SE SURVIVES PAIR OF ELIMINATION GAMES

Southeast Missouri State University demonstrated its bounce-back ability in a big way Friday to set up a rematch in today's championship round of the Ohio Valley Conference baseball tournament.

The second-seeded Indians shook off their heartbreaking loss to third-seeded Middle Tennessee early Friday (see related story) to pound fourth-seeded Austin Peay 13-0 and top-seeded Eastern Kentucky 15-5 as they ended the seasons for both squads.

So now the original six-team field has been trimmed to just two: Southeast and MTSU, the latter being the only squad without a loss in the double-elimination tourney.

Southeast (37-16) and MTSU (36-21) will square off at 1 p.m. today at Capaha Field. An MTSU win gives the Raiders the tournament title. A Southeast victory would force a second game to decide the crown.

"I'm really proud of the ballclub to bounce back the way we did after such a tough loss," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We left no doubt (about reaching the championship round), the way we swung the bats.

"Middle Tennessee has a tremendous team and I really feel like the two best teams in the conference are going to be playing for the title. It should be a great day."

The Indians pounded out 28 hits -- including four home runs -- during their two lopsided victories. Shane Allen and Zach Borowiak led the way with five hits each while Phil Warren belted three homers and drove in six runs in the win over Austin Peay, giving him four home runs and eight RBIs for the tournament.

"We had a tough loss, but we've got seven seniors on this team who are fighting for their life. This is our last go-round," said Warren. "This team just has a lot of heart and we're really looking forward to play Middle Tennessee again."

Southeast and MTSU has split four games this season, with a difference of just one total run separating the squads in those four contests.

"We've already had four great games with them and I expect more of the same (today)," Hogan said. "I feel good about our pitching staff. We'll probably have to use a lot of guys, but if we can continue our offense, then I feel real good about our chances."

MTSU advanced to today's championship round by beating EKU 6-4 in Friday's winner's bracket final.

Southeast Missouri 15

Eastern Kentucky 5

Last Sunday, EKU celebrated on Southeast's field as the Colonels won the OVC regular-season title by beating the Indians in the finale of a three-game series.

This time, the Indians returned the favor by stunning the Colonels with an eight-run first inning on the way to an easy victory.

Kevin Meyer had two of Southeast's eight hits in the opening frame while Darin Kinsolving and Jeremy Johnson both delivered two-run hits as Scott Santa (6-5) was sent to an early exit after retiring just two batters.

Meyer went 4-for-5 with three doubles to lead Southeast's 15-hit attack; the Indians' single-season school record-holder in doubles increased his total to 24. Meyer also had three RBIs.

Allen, inserted into the lineup for the two contests following Southeast's loss to MTSU, had three hits, including the game's only homer, a big two-run shot in the fourth inning that silenced an EKU rally after the Colonels had pulled to within 8-5.

Borowiak added two hits for the Indians, who saw all nine of their starters hit safely.

Tommy Thomas struggled some but he was able to pitch all nine innings as he gave Southeast's mound corps a boost heading into today's action. Thomas (7-3) allowed eight hits and issued seven walks, but he struck out 10.

"I haven't finished a game all year, so I really wanted to pitch all nine innings, and I wanted to save us (the team) some innings," said Thomas. "At the beginning, the way things were going, I was just hoping to get to the fifth or sixth. But I eventually settled down."

Aaron Williams had three hits and four RBIs to pace the Colonels (30-27), who got two hits from Brad Sizemore. EKU lost leading hitter Adam Basil to a first-inning ejection as Basil expressed his displeasure to the home-plate umpire after being called out on strikes.

Southeast Missouri 13

Austin Peay 0

Led by Warren's three homers, the Indians came back just a short time after their loss to MTSU by eliminating Austin Peay (32-27).

Warren had a two-run shot in the third, a three-run blast in the sixth and a solo belt in the ninth.

"The only other time I've hit three homers in a game was in Little League," said Warren, who has 11 homers on the season despite missing 18 games with a broken wrist. "It felt good."

Southeast's Clemente Bonilla set a school single-game record by walking five times as the Indians took advantage of 11 free passes by five Austin Peay hurlers.

The Indians had 13 hits. Borowiak matched Warren with three while Johnson, Kinsolving and Allen all added two. Kinsolving and Charlie Marino both had two RBIs.

Dan Huesgen (6-4) got the win as he allowed just three hits in five innings despite battling back problems. He fanned four and walked four.

Todd Pennington hurled three scoreless frames, giving up two hits and no walks while fanning three. Ronnie Lewallen finished up with a scoreless ninth.

Austin Peay starter Jeff Miller (5-5) allowed six hits and four runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Middle Tennessee 6

Eastern Kentucky 4

The Raiders started the Colonels' downward spiral by handing EKU its first loss in a battle of the tourney's only two unbeaten squads to that point.

MTSU broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning as Jeff Parsons delivered a two-run single off reliever Mike Martini with the bases loaded.

EKU threatened in the ninth, but reliever Kyle Sparkman fanned Jason Sharp with the bases loaded and two outs.

Sparkman (2-1) got the win with 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit work. Starter Kris Lammers gave up nine hits and four runs in 7 1/3 innings.

Chip Albright (7-8) worked seven-plus innings and took the loss. He gave up eight hits and five runs.

MTSU's Bryan Peck continued his strong tournament by going 3-for-3 and belting his second homer. Parsons and Josh Pride added two hits each, with Parsons having three RBIs.

Sizemore had the big blow for EKU, a three-run homer in the fifth that tied the contest at 4-4. Lee Chapman, Gabe Thomas and Mike Schneider all had two hits for the Colonels.