Indians snap a skid with win over USM

Southeast left-hander Tim Alvarez pitched a complete game as Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team ended a three-game losing streak with a 9-2 road victory over Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg, Miss., on Friday.

Alvarez struck out nine batters to improve to 3-0 and account for all three victories by the Indians, who improved to 3-5. Southern Mississippi (9-4), which came into the game batting .303 as a team, managed nine hits and drew three walks.

Auburn transfer Justin Christian continued to swing a powerful bat for the Indians by belting his team-high third home run in the third inning.

Southeast had 11 hits overall with Tristen McDonald, Gary Gilbert, Eric Hoffman and Brian Hopkins getting two apiece.

Southeast scored seven runs off Southern Mississippi starter Anthony DeWitt (2-1), who gave up eight hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked two.

The Indians struck first with two runs in the second before Christian sent a DeWitt delivery over the center-field wall for a 3-0 lead in the third. Southeast added three runs in the fourth for a 6-0 advantage.

Southern Mississippi scored both its runs in the fifth to make the score 6-2, but Alvarez pitched shutout ball the final four innings. Southeast added single insurance runs in the sixth, eighth and ninth.

The game was the first of a three-game series. The team will meet again at 2 p.m. today and conclude the series with a 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.

Otahkians win opener of Southeast tournament

Southeast Missouri State University won the opener of its own three-day Southeast Softball Classic with an 8-1 victory over Siena on Friday.

Southeast (2-3) had little trouble with Siena in the only game played on the opening day of the three-day, six-team tournament.

Kelly Birk (2-1) allowed just one hit over the first three innings for the win, and Rachel Van Fleet held the Saints to three hits over the final four innings.

Alana Bagby-Leonard went 4-for-4. She belted a two-run home run in the third inning and finished with three RBIs. Kemi Rampi had three RBIs, while leadoff batter Amy Murphy was 3-for-3.

The Otahkians scored single runs in the first and second innings, then upped its lead to 5-0 with a three-run third. Southeast added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. Siena scored in the fourth.

Southeast collected 11 hits, four coming off Tara Campbell (0-1), who lasted 2 1/3 innings.

Games continues today at 10 a.m. Southeast will face Middle Tennessee at noon and Drake at 2 p.m.

-- From staff reports