POOR EIGHTH INNING DOOMS SE BASEBALL

RICHMOND, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's hopes for a sweep to open the Ohio Valley Conference baseball season evaporated Sunday in a dreadful eighth inning.

Host Eastern Kentucky erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth -- all of them unearned because of two Southeast errors -- as the Colonels posted a 12-5 victory.

EKU thus salvaged the final contest in the three-game series after Southeast had swept Saturday's doubleheader.

Southeast fell to 8-11 overall and 2-1 in OVC play. EKU is now 14-10 overall, 1-2 in the league.

The Indians scored twice in each of the first two innings to grab early leads of 2-0 and 4-1. But Southeast, which had four hits in the opening two frames, managed just one hit the remainder of the way.

Eric Bess, the Colonels' starting pitcher, settled down after a shaky start to retired 18 straight batters between the third and eighth innings. Bess (4-2) finished with a four-hitter over eight frames. He struck out six and walked one.

Southeast starter Dan Huesgen pitched fairly effectively, allowing nine hits and four runs in seven innings. He did not figure into the decision.

Chad Bogenpohl, one of four Southeast hurlers in the eighth inning, took the loss despite giving up just one hit. Bogenpohl (1-1) was charged with four runs in one-third of an inning.

Jerry Wolsey allowed a hit and did not retire a batter. He was charged with two runs. Todd Pennington gave up one hit and two runs while retiring one batter and Brandon Smith allowed a hit and no runs while retiring one batter.

Jeremy Johnson had two of Southeast's five hits, including a home run in the ninth inning. He drove in a pair of runs.

Sean Murray had three of EKU's 13 hits. He and Brad Sizemore both homered. Kiley Vaughn had four RBIs.

The Indians will return to action Tuesday when Missouri Baptist comes to Cape Girardeau for a 3 p.m. non-conference game at Capaha Field.