LOSS, RAIN KEEP TOURNEY IN LIMBO; INDIANS DROP OPENER TO MOREHEAD ST.

The strong right arm of Jon Rauch and Mother Nature prevented Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team from clinching the host spot for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

But the Indians will have another chance today.

Rauch pitched a two-hitter and retired the final 19 batters he faced to lead Morehead State past Southeast 2-1 Saturday during the first game of a scheduled doubleheader at Caphaha Field.

The Indians led the nightcap 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when rain began to fall. After a lengthy delay, the contest was postponed.

At noon today -- weather permitting -- the teams will resume Saturday's second game at the point it was stopped. Then the squads will play one more contest to conclude the three-game series.

For Southeast, the situation is this: win one of the two games today -- or even have one of the games rained out -- and they'll finish second in the OVC and earn the right to host the league tournament, since OVC champion Eastern Illinois does not have lights on its field.

The only way the Indians will not host next week's tourney is to lose all three games this weekend. In that case, Southeast and Tennessee Tech would both wind up tied at 14-10 in league play and the Eagles hold the tie-breaker over the Indians.

"It's crazy," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We knew it would be a tough series and it's going down to the last day."

Southeast is now 26-21 overall and 14-8 in OVC play. Morehead, which by winning Saturday clinched a spot in the six-team OVC tourney, improved to 18-31 overall and 11-11 in the league.

Rauch (6-5), a 6-foot-9 sophomore righthander who was clocked as high as 94 miles per hour Saturday, gave up Charlie Marino's 17th home run of the season in the first inning. He also allowed a Jeff Bourbon single in the first.

But the Indians did not have another baserunner the rest of the way. Rauch struck out four and issued no walks.

Southeast starter Jason Swearingen (7-5) was just about as good as Rauch. Swearingen, a senior who is just one win away from Southeast's career record of 28 victories, allowed seven hits. He fanned five and walked none.

Harold Craft's solo homer in the fifth made it 1-1 and then Todd Barker's RBI double in the sixth was the game-winner.

"Both pitchers were tremendous," said Hogan. "Rauch can really throw. And Jason also threw a great game."

Marino homered again in the nightcap, his 18th that put him just two away from the school record, helping the Indians to a 2-0 lead.

Ace pitcher Ryan Spille (8-1) struck out four in the first three innings. Hogan said he'll hopefully be able to resume pitching today, but that won't be easy.

"We'll see how he feels," said the coach.