INDIANS RUN OVC WIN STREAK TO SIX GAMES

On a cold day at Capaha Park, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians remained red hot in Ohio Valley Conference play.

The Indians pushed their league winning streak to six games Saturday by sweeping a twi-night doubleheader from Austin Peay, 10-7 and 3-2. In the process, they propelled themselves squarely into OVC title contention.

Southeast (13-19 overall) is now 8-6 in OVC play, good for third place, 1 1/2 games behind first-place Tennessee Tech (9-4) and one game behind Middle Tennessee State (8-4). The Indians jumped ahead of Austin Peay (7-7).

While there is still plenty of work to do for the Indians, they're a far cry better off than they were just last weekend, when they entered a three-game series against Eastern Illinois in last place in the OVC.

"We have to keep this in perspective," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "But we're definitely moving in the right direction."

The Indians continued to move that way Saturday thanks in large part to strong starting pitching, timely hitting, lively base running and continued solid defense.

Troy Pehle gave the Indians five-plus strong innings as the first-game starter, then Dave Siboda was extremely impressive in going all seven innings of the nightcap.

"This was big for us today," said an excited Siboda after shutting down the Governors (17-20 overall). "Troy did a great job in the first game and got us a big win.

"I was ready for the second game. I feel good now. My arm feels strong. Our offense is coming through and everybody is playing good defense."

Southeast was actually out-hit on the day, 21 to 15, but the Indians made their hits count much more than the Governors.

LaMonte Collier, who entered the day batting .434, went 3-for-6 in the two games to continue his hot hitting.

Brad Hoehner was 2-for-2 with three runs batted in during the opener while Mike Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Kyle Yount also drove home two runs during a nine-hit first-game attack.

Scott Sullivan matched Collier in getting two hits during the nightcap, which saw the Indians have six hits.

"We had a lot of people come through for us in both games," said Hogan. "I thought both sides played well. They were two outstanding college baseball games.

"Austin Peay has a nice ballclub. They hit the ball well (batting better than .300 as a team). So these were two good wins for us."

Pehle (4-2) scattered nine hits over 5 2/3 innings as he allowed only three runs.

Dan Huesgen got a big strikeout to end a threat in the sixth, then ran into trouble by allowing four runs in the seventh as the Govs pulled to within 10-7.

Jason Swearingen got the final two outs -- including a controversial one when second baseman Collier made a great bare-handed play on a bunt by Kent Brown -- to earn his first save.

"Pehle did an outstanding job," Hogan said. "Huesgen got us a big strikeout to end the sixth and then Swearingen closed it out."

The Indians took advantage of Austin Peay ace Craig Smith's wildness in the opener. Smith, the 1996 OVC Pitcher of the Year, walked four and lasted only 1 1/3 innings. Southeast built a 10-3 lead and then held on.

Siboda (3-4) didn't need nearly that much support in the nightcap as he allowed six hits while striking out five and walking two.

"Dave threw like we know he can throw," said Hogan. "He pitched a wonderful game."

Southeast, which never trailed, scored the ultimate winning run in the fifth as Jeremy Johnson walked and came home on Collier's double that made it 3-1.

Collier, Johnson and Lance Craft each stole two bases as the Indians had eight thefts on the day.

Austin Peay got four hits on the day from Aaron Sledd while Greg Troy belted a first-game home run.

The teams will close out their three-game series today with a 1 p.m. contest at Capaha Park.