MEMPHIS USES BIG INNINGS TO BLOW PAST SOUTHEAST

Memphis scored in only three of nine innings Wednesday afternoon, but that was more than enough damage for the Tigers to salvage a split of their two-game series with host Southeast Missouri State University.

The Tigers crushed three tape-measure home runs and put up five runs in each of the first two frames, then added three insurance tallies in the ninth as they rolled past the Indians 13-5 in front of 423 fans at Capaha Field.

Southeast, which had posted a 14-4 victory over Memphis Tuesday night, fell to 23-12 while the Tigers improved to 19-13.

"You have to give Memphis credit," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "They bounced back from a tough loss last (Tuesday) night."

Deserving much of the credit for the Tigers was first baseman Jay Fik, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder who had hit just four home runs all season prior to Wednesday.

The left-handed-hitting Fik bombed three-run homers in each of the first two innings -- and both were sights to behold.

In the opening frame, Fik's towering shot to right field off Southeast starter Tommy Thomas hit the road in Capaha Park on the fly and was estimated to have traveled at least 450 feet. In the second, his blast to right off Mark Frazier wasn't quite as long, but it still probably went close to 400 feet.

"I got it good," said Fik of his first homer. "It didn't hurt that the wind was blowing out 60 miles an hour, but I got it good."

To be sure, an extremely strong wind blew out to right field all game long. But Fik's homers would have been rockets during any kind of weather conditions.

"He hit two bombs," Hogan said. "The one that bounced on the road looked like a super ball. The wind gave it some help, but he didn't need it."

Another Memphis player, Ryan O'Malley, drilled a long two-run shot to left in the second inning -- prior to Fik's blast -- and that homer marked the end for Thomas, who struggled for the second straight outing.

Thomas was charged with seven runs on seven hits in just 1 1/3 innings as his record fell to 3-7. Normally the No. 3 starter in Southeast's rotation for Ohio Valley Conference games, Hogan said that Thomas would be replaced for this weekend's OVC series at Tennessee-Martin by Brandon Smith.

After Frazier, who relieved Thomas, gave up Fik's three-run homer that put the Tigers up 10-2, Southeast's bullpen was stellar to at least give the Indians half a chance to pull off a huge rally.

The Indians did make things semi-interesting by pulling within 10-5 after five innings, but they were held scoreless the rest of the way and then the Tigers iced things in the ninth.

Southeast's offensive star -- as has been the case much of the season -- was Clemente Bonilla, who drilled a pair of right-field homers of his own, solo shots in the third and fifth.

While Bonilla's fourth and fifth round-trippers of the season weren't nearly as prodigious as Fik's clouts, they were still mighty impressive blows by the 5-9, 170-pound switch-hitter with the sweet swing.

"Give the wind all the credit," said Bonilla with a laugh. "The pitcher fell behind and I got two fastballs over the plate."

Bonilla, who recently became Southeast's all-time leader in walks, went 3-for-3 to make him 6-for-7 in the series as he boosted his OVC-leading batting average to a sizzling .450.

"I'm seeing the ball pretty well," said the junior second baseman. "The walks are good, and when I get a pitch to hit, I'm not missing it."

Frazier, after giving up Fik's three-run homer in the second, worked scoreless third and fourth innings, with five strikeouts.

Mike Robinson pitched two scoreless frames, allowing one hit, and Andy Davidson also hurled two scoreless frames before running into trouble in the ninth.

Defensively, Southeast sophomore third baseman Denver Stuckey stole the show by making two incredible plays, including one where he dove behind the bag into foul territory to snare a ground ball and retired the batter by rifling a throw from his knees.

"It wasn't a total loss for us today, especially with the (relief) pitching and some of the defensive plays we had," Hogan said. "Denver Stuckey put on a show."

O'Malley had four of the Tigers' 14 hits and he also drove in four runs. Gabe Interiano, Barrett Smith and Joshua Payne all joined Fik in getting two hits.

The Indians finished with six hits off four Memphis hurlers. Brian Hopkins added two hits for the Tribe.