Indians one win away from OVC title, NCAA Tournament berth

PADUCAH, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University is alive and well after all in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

The top-seeded Indians bounced back from Thursday's loss to fourth-seeded Murray State by winning twice Friday.

First, the Indians eliminated third-seeded Austin Peay 7-5 in a late morning start, then came back at night to hammer fifth-seeded Tennessee Tech 9-2 and hand the Eagles their first tournament defeat.

So the original field of six has been trimmed to three for today's final two games, with no undefeated team remaining.

Tennessee Tech will play second-seeded Eastern Illinois, which eliminated Murray State 6-5 Friday, at 1 p.m. today. Southeast will play the survivor at 4 p.m. in a winner-take-all contest for the tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament berth.

"We're in a different situation than we were in about 24 hours ago, but I had confidence," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "We played tremendous baseball in two pressure games, but it didn't surprise me because this club has done it all year.

"We're in a good position now, but it's still going to be tough to get that last one. Whoever we play is going to lay it all on the line like we will."

The OVC regular-season champion Indians (35-18) held off Austin Peay in their opener Friday but, after a meal and rest at their hotel, left no doubt against Tech (28-26), blistering the Eagles with a 14-hit barrage, much of it coming early.

Vern Hatton got Southeast going in the top of the first inning with a two-out, two-run homer, his eighth of the season.

"I felt real intense today and I wanted to set the tone," Hatton said. "It all come together for us and we put hits together in key situations."

Tristen McDonald belted his team-leading 10th home run of the year, a two-run shot in the third that highlighted a four-run Southeast explosion. Dave Lawson and Denver Stuckey added RBI singles as the Indians went up 6-0 and the rout was on.

Leading 6-1 in the fourth, Zach Borowiak had an RBI double and Lawson delivered a two-run single as the Indians opened up a 9-1 advantage.

Hatton and Borowiak both went 3-for-5. McDonald, Stuckey and Lawson all added two hits, with Lawson getting three RBIs.

Donnie Fuller, who struggled for the first half of the season but has been arguably Southeast's most effective pitcher in recent weeks, went all nine innings in his longest outing this year. Fuller (3-1), who previously had not worked more than five innings, scattered nine hits while striking out eight and walking none. He allowed just one earned run.

"I had a feeling I would stretch it more than five and I was ready to do it," Fuller said. "I wasn't tired at all. I felt good the whole way. And it was great to pitch with all those early runs."

Southeast 7, Austin Peay 5

The Indians got strong pitching from Brandon Smith to start the day.

Smith, who previously had not gone past seven innings this year, carried a shutout into the seventh and he worked into the ninth before tiring.

In 8 2/3 innings, Smith (11-2) allowed nine hits and four earned runs. He struck out seven and walked one and tied teammate Brad Purcell for the OVC lead in wins.

Smith was lifted with two on and two out in the top of the ninth as the Govs (30-27), who trailed 6-0 and 7-1 before rallying with a four-run eighth, threatened to come all the way back.

Mark Frazier, who worked 4 1/3 stellar relief innings Thursday against Murray State, allowed a single to Michael Johnson -- who hit his 18th homer of the season in the eighth, a three-run shot -- that loaded the bases. But Frazier got A.J. Ellis on a ground ball to shortstop to earn his OVC-leading fifth save.

"I felt good, but I was getting tired at the end," Smith said. "Bringing in Mark was the right move."

Hatton got his ninth triple of the year to set a single-season school record, and the former junior-college transfer tied the Southeast career mark with 13 in just two seasons.

Borowiak and Brian Hopkins each had two of Southeast's nine hits. McDonald had two RBIs.

"Brandon did a great job because we didn't have to go into our bullpen too much," Hogan said. "And Mark came through again."

Purcell, the league's Pitcher of the Year who was the winner in Wednesday's tournament opener, is scheduled to take the mound today on two days rest with an NCAA berth at stake.

"I'm ready to go," Purcell said. "We're all pumped up and I can't wait."

mmishow@semissourian.com

(573) 335-6611, extension 132