INDIANS PADDLE RIVERMEN 13-3; SOUTHEAST BLASTS 7 HOME RUNS

In a game that virtually every Southeast Missouri State University baseball player enjoyed thoroughly, Robert Kern no doubt had the most fun.

Kern, a former Cape Girardeau Central High standout, ripped three of Southeast's seven home runs Tuesday night as the Indians blasted Division II powerhouse Missouri-St. Louis 13-3 at Capaha Field.

The Indians improved to 12-10 with the nonconference victory while UMSL fell to 9-5.

"I felt good and I was seeing the ball well," said Kern. "Everybody hit the ball well. We're really starting to come together as a team."

While most of the Indians did hit the ball well, Kern definitely had the most pop in his bat.

The lefthanded-hitting junior outfielder/designated hitter singled in the first inning, drilled a solo homer to right in the third, ripped a towering grand-slam to right in the fourth and belted a solo shot to the opposite field in left in the seventh.

Throw in a fifth-inning walk and Kern finished the night 4-for-4 with six runs batted in. He raised his batting average from .341 entering the game to around the .390 mark.

"I've never hit three home runs in a game before and I've never hit a grand slam before, so it felt good," he said.

Kern took over the Indians' team lead in homers with eight, just ahead of Charlie Marino, who belted his seventh of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

Also homering for the Indians were Darin Kinsolving (his fifth), Jeremy Johnson (fourth) and Dave Sommerkamp (second).

The Indians banged out 15 hits. Kinsolving, Steve Lowe, Kyle Yount and Jeff Bourbon all had two.

"We hit the ball up and down the lineup. Even a lot of our outs were really tagged," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's not something you expect all the time, but with this type of club, there will be days like this.

"UMSL is a tough club, one of the better teams in the nation in Division II. I have a lot of respect for their program and coach (Jim) Brady. They just ran into a buzz saw tonight."

Dan Huesgen evened his record at 1-1 by pitching seven strong innings. He allowed seven hits and three runs while striking out two and walking none.

Jason Swearingen hurled the final two innings, giving up just one hit.

"I thought Huesgen pitched a tremendous game," Hogan said.

The highlight of the contest for UMSL was a two-run homer in the seventh by Chaffee High product Brian Payne, his second round tripper of the season.

Otherwise, the night pretty much belonged to the Indians, who went ahead for good with two runs in the third inning on solo homers by Johnson and Kern.

After UMSL pulled to within 2-1 in the fourth, the Indians started to break the game open with a five-run bottom of the fourth, the big blow being Kern's grand slam. After that, the game was a rout.

Southeast will be right back in action today, hosting Southwest Missouri State in a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Capaha Field.

"They're a very good ballclub, one of the best we'll face this year," said Hogan.

INDIAN NOTES: Kenny Gaebler, a walkon freshman from Delta, got his first start of the season Tuesday as he played center field. The speedy Gaebler went hitless in four at-bats but he walked and scored a run as he continues to draw Hogan's praise.

"He's going to be a good ballplayer for us," said Hogan.

Former Cape Central standout pitcher Brandon West is a member of the Southwest Missouri team. The junior, who transferred from Jefferson College, had hurled only 2 1/3 innings for the 9-3 Bears prior to a game Tuesday night.