PENNINGTON LOWERS SPARKLING E.R.A.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. -- Todd Pennington's unbelievable season continued Saturday afternoon as Southeast Missouri State University swept an Ohio Valley Conference baseball doubleheader from host Austin Peay.

The Indians prevailed 1-0 and 11-1 as they improved to 29-14 overall and 10-4 in the OVC, good for second place. The Governors are 23-24 overall and 5-9 in league play.

Pennington, the Indians' junior pitcher, entered the twin bill as the national Division I earned-run average leader at 0.90.

And that mark got even lower as the right-hander fired a seven-inning shutout in the opener, allowing three hits while striking out eight and walking three.

Pennington, who has now hurled 25 straight scoreless innings, improved his record to 10-1 as he continued to close in on the school's single-season victory mark of 11. With a minimum of three starts left, Pennington stands a solid chance of breaking the record.

A Shawnee (Ill.) High School product, Pennington finished Saturday's game strong by fanning five in the final two innings, including the side in the seventh.

Still, it took a weird run by Southeast in the top of the seventh inning to prevent the game from going to extra frames.

With one out, Vern Hatton was hit by a pitch. He moved to second on a wild pitch, tagged and went to third on a fly ball out by Tristen McDonald and then scored the game's only run on another wild pitch.

Austin Peay starter Stephen Pew was just about as good as Pennington, holding the Indians scoreless on four hits in 5 2/3 innings before being replaced by Frank Kunich, who suffered the loss despite not allowing a hit.

Hatton went 2-for-2 to pace the Indians offensively.

In the second game, there was little suspense as the Indians banged out 15 hits and received more strong pitching.

Brad Purcell (4-2) allowed three hits and one run in 5 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. Andy Davidson finished up, allowing one hit and fanning three in 1 2/3 innings.

Freshman sensation Brad Beatty, who entered the day batting .377 but went hitless in the opener, was 3-for-5 in the nightcap. McDonald was 3-for-4 -- including a home run -- and drove in four runs.

Matt Baldwin doubled, tripled and had two RBIs while Jeff Bourbon also had two hits and two RBIs. Brian Hopkins homered, a leadoff shot in the first inning that gave Southeast an early 1-0 lead.

A leadoff homer by Austin Peay's Rusty Moore in the bottom of the first tied it, but McDonald put the Indians ahead to stay with a three-run shot in the third and they romped the rest of the way.

Southeast played Saturday without regular third baseman Denver Stuckey, who has a leg injury. Stuckey is doubtful for today's finale of the three-game series.