One inning separates good from great

With their backs against the proverbial wall, Southwest Missouri State's Bears turned to their only experienced returning pitcher to try and bail them out.

Jeff Gray didn't disappoint.

Gray, a senior right-hander, held Southeast Missouri State University to five hits and no earned runs Sunday afternoon, and SMS scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to clip the Indians 6-2 at Capaha Field.

SMS salvaged one victory in the three-game series and improved to 7-10. Southeast, losing for the first time at home this season, fell to 8-9. The Indians had an overall four-game winning streak snapped.

"We have one of our top seven pitchers back and he's that one," said SMS coach Keith Guttin, whose squad lost virtually all of its top players from last year's College World Series team. "Gray really picked us up. We've been scuffling, but give SEMO credit on the first two games. They've been playing well."

Gray, who went the nine-inning distance, has been a member of the Bears' starting rotation the past several years but he had only appeared in relief so far this season, as Guttin had been trying him in a different role. He struck out five and walked three.

"We really needed that one. Everybody was kind of down after losing the first two," said Gray. "I had my doubts about how long I would be able to go since I've been relieving, but I felt good."

Southeast starter Mike Fitch, who did not figure into the decision, matched Gray for eight innings before he was removed after more than 130 pitches. The junior right-hander allowed four hits and two tainted first-inning runs -- both scored on a pop-fly single that was misjudged in center field by freshman Brent Lawson as heavy winds blew in all day -- with eight strikeouts and four walks.

"Fitch had a great day, but Gray pitched a fabulous game," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "Give SMS credit. They bounced back after two tough games."

Tied 2-2 entering the ninth, the Bears broke through against freshman reliever Matt Carter (0-1), who allowed four hits. Although Southeast made three errors in the frame -- two of them on throws and one on an outfield misplay -- the first three runs were earned.

The inning looked harmless enough as Brooks Colvin was on first with two outs. Colvin appeared to get picked off by Carter, but was ruled safe. Ryan Gotcher singled to right as Colvin raced to third, and he was able to score easily when right fielder Bryan Kurt let the ball get past him for an error. Jud Kindle followed with a two-run homer that broke the game open.

Chris Taylor had three of the Bears' nine hits, and he drove in the two first-inning runs.

Lawson -- starting in place of junior Frankie Montiel, the Indians' leading hitter who missed the game with a deep bruise on his right hand -- led the Indians with two hits.

"It could have been a great weekend for us, but it was still a good weekend," Hogan said. "We're a lot closer to being a good team than we were before the week started."

Southeast visits Southern Illinois-Carbondale at 2 p.m. Tuesday, then hosts Missouri at 6 p.m. Wednesday.