MIZZOU TOPS SOUTHEAST IN HOMERFEST

In a titanic clash of tape-measure home runs Tuesday night, Missouri lost the battle but won the war.

The Tigers had three homers compared to seven by host Southeast Missouri State University, with just about all 10 being of the no-doubt variety.

But the Tigers hit the long ball that mattered the most -- a three-run rocket by Griffin Moore that broke an 8-8 tie in the top of the ninth inning. The ball sailed well over the left-field fence at spacious Capaha Park and provided an 11-8 victory for the Tigers.

Missouri improved to 25-10 by winning the thrilling non-conference game played in front of nearly 350 fans on an ideal night for baseball.

Southeast fell to 20-17 with its fifth consecutive defeat, although the Indians have certainly not been losing to any patsies as they have stepped away from Ohio Valley Conference play for a while.

Three of the defeats were against nationally-ranked Georgia Tech while another came to a stout Arkansas State squad. And Southeast held late leads in three of those games.

"We're trying to play really strong competition (outside the conference) to help us grow as a team," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's disappointing to lose a game like this, but I hope the guys don't get down about it.

"We have been right in three of the last five games with a chance to win them. And that's playing some great teams. Hopefully when we get back in the conference, these games will only help us."

Even though the Indians could not hold leads of 6-1 and 8-5 Tuesday, Hogan basically had no complaints.

"This was a great college baseball game any way you look at it," he said. "We're playing a real hot Missouri club right now and I didn't think any score was going to be enough because they have a tremendous offensive team.

"It was basically an extremely well played game. We made one error and they had no errors. There was a lot of hitting and a lot of outstanding pitching performances."

Charlie Marino and Jeff Bourbon both had two homers for the Indians, raising Marino's team-high total to 12. Robert Kern hit his 10th of the season while Jeremy Johnson and Brad Hoehner also added homers, Hoehner's first of the campaign.

Missouri's Ryan Fry blasted his 17th and 18th homers of the year while Moore's decisive shot was his 10th.

The Indians belted four homers in the first inning against lefthander Jay Bell, who was recently the national pitcher of the week and is regarded as one of Missouri's top hurlers.

Southeast led 6-1 after two innings but Bell settled down some and two other Missouri pitchers were sharp.

Indian starter Dan Huesgen gave up just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings. Three Southeast hurlers followed him to the mound.

After Missouri pulled to within 8-7 in the top of the seventh, the Indians had a golden opportunity to open up some breathing room in the bottom of the frame but Logan Dale worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam without allowing a run.

Fry's leadoff homer in the eighth finally got the Tigers even at 8-8. Southeast hurler Jerry Wolsey later came on with the bases loaded and one out to get a strikeout and pop up to keep the game deadlocked.

Then the Indians wasted another bases-loaded, no-out chance in the bottom of the eighth as Missouri's ace reliever Chris George came on to escape the jam, helped by a base-running blunder by Southeast.

With one out and the bases loaded, Steve Lowe flied out to deep right which should have easily scored a run. But both pinch-runners, Kenny Gaebler at third and Marty Lane at second, took off when the ball was hit, allowing the Tigers to get an easy double play at second.

"I don't know how to explain that, but you see it happen on all levels," Hogan said. "But the way the game ended, that one run was not going to be a pivotal run."

Wolsey (0-2) suffered the loss despite the stellar work in the eighth as he allowed all three runs in the ninth.

"The job he did in the eighth was just tremendous," said Hogan.

George (4-1) got the win with two innings of perfect relief.

Southeast will have another non-conference game tonight, visiting St. Louis University for a 6 p.m. start.

The Indians will host Middle Tennessee this weekend in a key three-game OVC series. Saturday's doubleheader is set for a 3 p.m. start.