INDIANS TO OPEN OVC TOURNEY AGAINST GOVS

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team swept the season series from Austin Peay and the Indians finished six games ahead of the Governors in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

But all that doesn't make Southeast coach Mark Hogan very comfortable as his squad prepares to meet Austin Peay in today's opening round of the OVC Tournament in Paducah, Ky.

The second-seeded Indians (34-18) and fifth-seeded Govs (28-28) will square off at 3:30 p.m. at Brooks Stadium in the middle game of three first-round contests.

"They scare me a lot," said Hogan of Austin Peay, "because they have outstanding pitching and the games were really close when we handled them at their place."

Actually, two of the three contests went down to the wire, Southeast winning 1-0 and 4-3. The other was a romp as the Indians prevailed 11-0.

But Hogan's concern is probably warranted. For starters, Austin Peay was the consensus preseason OVC favorite in voting by the league's head coaches. In addition, tourney play -- with so much at stake, namely an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament -- is often extremely unpredictable.

"Austin Peay was hands down the pick to win the league, so they're obviously a very talented team," Hogan said. "And anything can happen in a tournament."

In a double-elimination event like the OVC tourney, it is extremely important that a team wins its first game.

"If you don't, you'll have to go through twice as much pitching as normal," said Hogan. "It's very tough to win the tournament from the loser's bracket."

Toward that end, the Indians would appear to be in excellent shape because they have the OVC Pitcher of the Year Todd Pennington, who is 12-1 with an 0.81 earned-run average that leads NCAA Division I hurlers.

"If Penny throws the way he's been, we'll be in good shape for the first game," said Hogan. "But Austin Peay has some very good pitching of its own."

Left-hander Mike Weel, the 2000 OVC Pitcher of the Year, has been the Govs' most effective hurler, although he has not been overwhelming with a 6-6 record and 4.17 ERA.

What worries Hogan the most about his own staff is what happens after Pennington. Brad Purcell (5-2, 5.53) and Tommy Thomas (4-8, 4.60), the Indians' second and third starters, have been up and down.

"It's a big concern," said Hogan of his pitching situation. "Right now, after Penny, we don't have anybody that has shown he can do it on a consistent basis."

One of Southeast's most effective hurler in recent weeks has been Greg Lunski (4-2, 4.05), who has excelled as both a spot starter and long reliever. Lunski should figure prominently into Hogan's pitching plans for the tournament.

"He's earned the right to get the ball at some point," Hogan said.

The Indians' offensive leader is OVC Player of the Year Clemente Bonilla, who is batting .388 despite being in something of a mini-slump recently. His average ranks second in the league.

Freshman Brad Beatty (.365) is the Indians' second-leading hitter. Vern Hatton recently took over the team lead in home runs with seven -- four players have six -- while Jeff Bourbon has driven in 53 runs, by far the most on the squad.

Austin Peay's top hitter is Rusty Moore (.364), followed by A.J. Ellis (.348). Ellis also has 10 homers and 51 RBIs. Frank Kunich leads the Govs in home runs with 15 while Michael Johnson has 12.

OVC TOURNAMENT TEAMS AT A GLANCE

* EASTERN ILLINOIS

Seed: No. 1

Record: 34-18, 19-1 OVC

Coach: Jim Schmitz (204-159 in 7 years at EIU)

Team batting average: .317

Team earned-run average: 6.18

Hitters to watch: Ben Duke .358, 9 HR, 38 RBIs; Bob VanHoorebeck .344, 5 HR, 30 RBI; Josh Landon .332, 7 HR, 36 RBIs; Chris Martin .330, 7 HR, 53 RBIs; Brian Nickell .295, 9 HR, 35 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Mike Ziroli 7-2, 8 S, 2.97 ERA; Scott Metz 5-2, 4.60; Pete Martin 7-2, 6.00

* SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

Seed: No. 2

Record: 34-18, 15-6 OVC

Coach: Mark Hogan (211-163-1 in 7 years at SE)

Team batting average: .301

Team earned-run average: 3.90

Hitters to watch: Clemente Bonilla .388, 6 HR, 34 RBIs; Brad Beatty .365, 4 HR, 31 RBIs; Zach Borowiak .322, 3 HR, 34 RBIs; Denver Stuckey .308, 5 HR, 28 RBIs; Vern Hatton .298, 7 HR, 34 RBIs; Jeff Bourbon .292, 6 HR, 53 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Todd Pennington 12-1, 0.81; Jeff Hilz 5-3, 2 S, 3.33; Greg Lunski 4-2, 4.05

* TENNESSEE TECH

Seed: No. 3

Record: 28-27, 12-9 OVC

Coach: Aaron Carroll (1st year at TT)

Team batting average: .294

Team earned-run average: 4.85

Hitters to watch: Ben Cunningham .381, 5 HR, 44 RBIs; Matt Curtis .340, 9 HR, 43 RBIs; Bubbie Buzachero .336, 4 HR, 36 RBIs; Wes Dunn .331, 2 HR, 29 RBIs; Mark Gilliam .330, 5 HR, 53 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Buzachero 4-4, 2 S, 3.34; Jim Ed Warden 5-6, 3.47; Donnie Long 6-5, 4.13

* MURRAY STATE

Seed: No. 4

Record: 28-24-1, 10-11 OVC

Coach: Mike Thieke (186-227-1 in 8 years at MSU)

Team batting average: .300

Team earned-run average: 5.64

Hitters to watch: Billy Moore .395, 0 HR, 15 RBIs; Ronnie Seats .340, 2 HR, 42 RBI; Garner Byars .332, 2 HR, 39 RBIs; Brett McCutchan .317, 7 HR, 55 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Aaron Russelburg 6-4, 3.65; Preston Hesley 4-4, 5.21; Rick McCarty 4-1, 8 S, 5.34

* AUSTIN PEAY

Seed: No. 5

Record: 28-28, 9-12 OVC

Coach: Gary McClure (397-92-3 in 14 years at AP)

Team batting average: .299

Team earned-run average: 5.51

Hitters to watch: Rusty Moore .364 7 HR, 37 RBIs; A.J. Ellis .348, 10 HR, 51 RBIs; Michael Johnson .315, 12 HR, 39 RBIs; Frank Kunich .307, 15 HR, 47 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Mike Weel 6-6, 4.17; Stephen Pew 6-4, 5.37; Klint Rommel 6-4, 4 S, 4.03

* EASTERN KENTUCKY

Seed: No. 6

Record: 23-29, 8-12 OVC

Coach: Jim Ward (626-526-5 in 23 years at EKU)

Team batting average: .281

Team earned-run average: 6.64

Hitters to watch: Josh Anderson .344, 3 HR, 26 RBIs; Kiley Vaughn .311, 12 HR, 39 RBIs; John Myles .302, 9 HR, 34 RBIs; Gabe Thomas .277, 9 HR, 28 RBIs

Pitchers to watch: Dan Bachman 2-3, 3.60; Keith Murnane 7-5, 3 S, 4.99; Scott Santa 6-6, 6.41

--Compiled by Marty Mishow

OVC Tournament

Today's games

(first round)

* No. 1 Eastern Illinois vs. No. 6 Eastern Kentucky, noon

* No. 2 Southeast Missouri vs. No. 5 Austin Peay, 3:30 p.m.

* No. 3 Tennessee Tech vs. No. 4 Murray St., 7 p.m.