Indians turn back Cowboys

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Southeast Missouri State University pitcher Ryan Forsyth graduated from Edmond (Okla.) Memorial High School, less than an hour's drive from Oklahoma State.

He was not recruited by the Cowboys, and decided to make a statement to them Wednesday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium. The junior right-hander gave up just five hits in 8 2/3 innings en route to a 4-2 win for the Indians. He struck out four and walked four.

"This is the best I've ever thrown, I think," said Forsyth, who brought a 1-2 record and a 7.12 ERA into the contest. "I struggled at the beginning and then I started to turn it on -- more strikes and better pitches. My changeup was really my go-to pitch. They were really on their front foot on that pitch, and that helped me out a lot."

Southeast (11-13) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Eric Horstman singled and later scored on Bryan Kurt's fielder's choice.

The Cowboys (18-10) responded with their only two runs of the game in the second.

The Indians regained the lead in the fourth. With one out, they got back-to-back singles from Brent Lawson and Bo Jenkins. Aaron Fangman walked to load the bases, and Brady Noll earned an RBI when he was hit by a pitch from Travis Ingle.

After Ingle was replaced by DeWayne Carver, Horstman drove in Jenkins with a sacrifice fly.

Southeast's final run came in the fifth when Gary Gilbert singled and eventually came in on Lawson's sacrifice fly.

Forsyth escaped from a jam in the bottom of the fifth, and OSU had no more hits and just one walk the rest of the game. After Forsyth fanned leadoff batter Rod Allen for the second out in the bottom of the ninth, closer Brad Smith came on and forced a groundout by Ryal to end the game. It was Smith's fourth save.

"The job that Ryan Forsyth did was phenomenal,"Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "He kept a good-hitting ballclub off balance, and our defense made some nice plays."

We had enough offense early to put up four, and that stood up. It was a great win for us."

Southeast finished with 11 hits, led by Gilbert with three and Noll with two.