MURRAY ST. PRINTS OUT OF GATE, PAST SE 8-4

MURRAY, Ky. -- The Murray State Racers scored five runs in the first inning Sunday and Southeast Missouri State University couldn't recover as the Indians dropped the Ohio Valley Conference game 8-4.

Southeast fell to 24-24 on the season and 13-7 in the OVC. Murray State improved to 28-22 and 11-10.

After losing two of three games in the weekend series, Southeast fell to two games back of Eastern Illinois in the OVC race.

Only 2.5 games separate second through fifth place.

The Racers -- after spotting the Indians a run in the top of the first on an RBI double by Darin Kinsolving -- chased Southeast starter Chad Bogenpohl (3-2) after just 2/3 innings of work. The Oak Ridge product have up five earned runs on five hits and a walk before he was pulled for Daniel Rodriguez.

Southeast and Murray State each added a run in the fifth. Southeast scored its run on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Yount.

Murray State, though, answered that run with an RBI infield hit by designated hitter Ryan Weatherly.

Southeast scored again in the top of the seventh on a solo home run by Kevin Meyer.

Like before, Murray State had an answer and, in the bottom of the seventh, scored two runs on a two-run homer by Weatherly to make the score 8-3.

Southeast accounted for the final margin in the top of the eighth on a double by Clemente Bonilla.

Bonilla went 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Jeremy Johnson, Kinsolving and Meyer each provided two hits each as the Indians rapped out a total of 10.

Rodriguez pitched six innings of relief for southeast, giving up three earned runs on eight hits. He struck out three. Brandon Smith pitched 1 1/3 innings for the Indians, giving up no runs and one hit.

Greg Harvey (7-6) earned the win for Murray State, going 6 1/3 innings. He gave up three earned runs on seven hits and a pair of walks. He fanned five.

Murray State managed 14 hits, including a 3-for-4 performance from Weatherly. Weatherly also scored twice and knocked home four. Chris Johnson, Dan Loyd, Brad Burns, Nathan Taylor and Jason Siler each had two hits apiece for the Racers.

Southeast left 12 runners on base, while Murray State stranded just six.