INDIANS HOLD OFF BEARS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Another dazzling pitching performance by Todd Pennington and a strong early offensive surge helped pave the way for Southeast Missouri State University's 11-9 baseball victory over host Southwest Missouri State Tuesday evening.

Pennington, who entered the contest third nationally in NCAA Division I earned-run average with an 0.97 mark, lowered that figure as he hurled five shutout innings before being lifted with the Indians leading 9-0.

SMS used a seven-run sixth (off Southeast relievers Greg Lunski and Brandon Smith) to get right back in the contest, but Southeast relief ace Jeffrey Hilz helped close things out late as the Indians hung on.

The Indians improved to 27-14 with the non-conference victory while the Bears, who received enough votes in the most recent national poll to unofficially rank 35th, fell to 26-15.

Pennington, who was on a pitch count in anticipation of this weekend's Ohio Valley Conference series at Austin Peay, improved his record to 9-1 and lowered his ERA to 0.90. He gave up just three hits while striking out nine and walking nobody.

Hilz, Southeast's fourth hurler, allowed a two-run triple in the seventh (only one of the runs was charged to him) but he closed extremely strong with two perfect innings as he earned his first save of the season. Hilz fanned five of the eight batters he retired.

Southeast banged out 14 hits, led by freshman Brad Beatty, who continued his sensational rookie season by going 4-for-5, including a key solo home run in the eighth inning that gave the Indians some insurance after SMS had closed to 10-9. Beatty entered the game batting .359.

Jeff Bourbon had two hits and drove in four runs. Also getting two hits each were Zach Borowiak, Vern Hatton and Shane Allen.

Bourbon's two-run single in the first inning put the Indians ahead to stay. Beatty's RBI single in the second made it 3-0, then a four-run fourth -- highlighted by Bourbon's two-run single -- gave the Tribe a 7-0 lead.

It became 9-0 in the fifth on Shane Allen's two-run homer. Then, even though the Bears staged a big rally, the Indians were able to hold on.