MURRAY STATE HANDS INDIANS 9-3 POUNDING

After splitting a pair of tight, hotly contested games Saturday, Murray State left no doubt Sunday.

The Thoroughbreds won the rubber game of a big Ohio Valley Conference weekend baseball series, thrashing Southeast Missouri State University 9-3 in front of more than 1,200 fans at Capaha Field.

Southeast, losing an OVC series for the first time all season, fell to 30-12 overall and 13-4 in league play. The Indians are now tied for second in the OVC with Middle Tennessee, which has an identical 13-4 mark. Both squads are 1 1/2 games behind Eastern Kentucky (15-3).

Murray State, now 19-23 overall, solidified its hold on fourth place in the nine-team OVC as the Thoroughbreds improved to 10-7 in league play.

"They really handed it to us today," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It's a shame we didn't win another game this weekend, but sometimes you have to tip your hat to the other team.

"I thought Murray State played as well or better as any team has played against us all year. They were really outstanding this weekend."

The Thoroughbreds had their way in most phases of Sunday's game as they banged out 14 hits and limited the Indians to just four hits.

"It was a very good series for us, especially after last weekend (when Middle Tennessee swept the Thoroughbreds)," said Murray State coach Mike Thieke. "Today was one of the best offensive days we've had in a couple of weeks."

Murray State also received an almost unbelievable pitching performance from Chris Gray (5-6), who went all nine innings. He struck out seven and walked five as he kept the Indians off balance most of the game.

Gray's effort would have been impressive under any circumstance. But, considering that the right-hander hurled 3 1/3 innings of sparkling relief to get the win in Saturday's first game of a doubleheader, his performance was nothing short of sensational.

"He was a warrior out there today," said an admiring Hogan. "It was just an incredible performance. I found him after the game, shook his hand and told him that was an inspiring performance."

Gray, when asked if he expected to pitch all nine innings, grinned and said, "Nope. I was shooting for seven. But my adrenaline really got going and it was great to finish."

Southeast starter Tommy Thomas (5-2) took the loss, allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) in 5 1/3 innings. He fanned six and walked two.

Brandon Smith gave up six hits and four runs (two earned) in three innings. Augie Casson got the game's final two outs, allowing one hit.

Chris Johnson and Ronnie Seets each homered and had three hits for the Thoroughbreds. Nathan Taylor also had three hits.

The Indians had two homers among their four hits, Charlie Marino's two-run shot in the third inning and Kevin Meyer's solo blast in the seventh. It was Marino's OVC-leading 14th home run of the season while Meyer got his eighth round-tripper.

Southeast's only other hits were singles by Jeremy Johnson in the sixth and Archie Stambush in the ninth. It was the first collegiate hit for Stambush, a sophomore who has seen sparse action the past two seasons.

"We just couldn't do much against Gray," Hogan said. "He really kept us off balance and made a lot of good hitters look bad."

Murray State, which never trailed, scored one run in the second and two in the third. Marino's two-run homer in the bottom of third pulled the Indians to within 3-2, but the Thoroughbreds pulled away with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh, and two in the eighth, to go up 8-2.