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SportsMarch 29, 2004

Murray State demonstrated how to bounce back after a very bad day. In the process, the Thoroughbreds prevented Southeast Missouri State University from sweeping its opening Ohio Valley Conference series. The Thoroughbreds, just one day after being hammered by the Indians in a doubleheader, turned the tables on Southeast with a 16-3 romp at Capaha Field Sunday afternoon...

Murray State demonstrated how to bounce back after a very bad day.

In the process, the Thoroughbreds prevented Southeast Missouri State University from sweeping its opening Ohio Valley Conference series.

The Thoroughbreds, just one day after being hammered by the Indians in a doubleheader, turned the tables on Southeast with a 16-3 romp at Capaha Field Sunday afternoon.

Southeast, which rolled 19-5 and 6-2 Saturday, fell to 10-12 overall and 2-1 in OVC play. MSU improved to 6-16 and 1-2.

"I'm really proud of the guys for battling back after what happened Saturday," MSU first-year coach Rob McDonald said. "These guys have been resilient all year. We've had some bad games but they've always bounced back well."

According to MSU freshman second baseman Seth Hudson, a Central High School graduate, it was simply a matter of putting what happened Saturday in the past.

"We just wanted to come out and forget about yesterday," said Hudson, who had a hit, scored two runs and drove in one run. He started all three games of the series.

Of his adjustment to college baseball, Hudson said, "It's been a big adjustment, but I've learned a lot and I'm having fun."

The Indians certainly didn't have much fun Sunday.

"I thought our guys battled but we just weren't very good today," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "But give Murray State credit. We just got outplayed today and they earned it."

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The Thoroughbreds only outhit the Indians 13-11, but MSU benefited from five Southeast errors and seven walks. Seven of the Thoroughbreds' runs were unearned.

"They had a good day offensively, and a key for us was our defense early," Hogan said.

Starting pitcher Derek Herbig's own throwing error on a pickoff play in the top of the first inning helped the Thoroughbreds score an unearned run and set the tone for the day.

In the second inning, two Southeast errors helped MSU score five unearned runs on just two hits as the Thoroughbreds went ahead 6-0. Herbig did not make it out of the second.

MSU never looked back after that, building a 10-0 lead through three innings and coasting to the victory.

Clint Griggs had three hits for the Thoroughbreds, giving him seven in the series. Geoff Kirksey also had three hits while Scotty Scott added two. Scott and Tyler Pittman both drove in three runs, and Pittman homered.

For Southeast, junior first baseman Freddy Lopez finished off a monster series at the plate by going 3-for-5, including his team-leading fourth homer of the season, a two-run shot. Lopez went 9-for-14 in the three games as his average jumped 102 points, all the way up to .352.

Junior shortstop Ernie Bracamonte and junior second baseman Bo Jenkins both added two hits for the Indians.

Left-hander Jon Ross Shelton (3-2) pitched seven innings for the victory, allowing 10 hits and three runs. He struck out five and walked one. West Harris, another lefty, finished up with two scoreless frames, allowing one hit and fanning four without a walk.

Herbig (1-2), also a lefty, allowed four unearned runs and just one hit in 1 2/3 innings. He fanned two and walked two. Five relievers followed Herbig to the mound.

Southeast returns to action Tuesday with a non-conference game at Oklahoma State. The squads will also play Wednesday. The Indians resume OVC play this weekend with a three-game series at preseason favorite Jacksonville (Ala.) State.

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