ROBINSON EQUALS OVC STREAK MARK IN SOUTHEAST SPLIT

Like the Energizer bunny, Kerry Robinson keeps going and going.

With four hits in eight at bats during a double header Friday night against the Austin Peay Governors, the Southeast Missouri State University center fielder and hitter extrodinaire tied the existing OVC record for consecutive games with a hit.

Southeast's Indians downed the Govs 4-2 in the first game before dropping 6-5 in the nightcap at Capaha Field.

Robinson, who has hit safely in 31 straight games, tied the Ohio Valley Conference mark set in 1981. He for now edges Richmond, Va., Universitys Sean Casey for the longest active hitting streak in college baseball. Caseys streak stands at 30 games. Richmond was idle Friday but begins a three-game series against George Mason University today. Southeast plays the rubber game of the Austin Peay today series at 1 p.m.

Southeast, 19-15 overall, remains tied for second place in the OVC with Morehead State with 7-4 league marks.

Austin Peay (17-22, 6-5 OVC) is tied for fifth with Murray State.

After Friday, Robinson is batting .394 with 24 RBIs. He had a single and a triple in game one and a double and a single in game two. Adding a pair of stolen bases, one in each game, Robinson also tied a school record with 44 career steals, 18 of which came this season.

Robinson was not the only Tribe hitter with a strong showing Friday. Catcher Rex Crosnoe nabbed a double in game one and a base hit in game two to extend his hitting streak to 13 games."Kerry and Rex are just doing an outstanding job," said Indian right fielder Brian Schaefer. "I'm just glad to be able to hit behind them."Schaefer had no poor day himself with three hits and two RBIs. Schaefer leads the OVC in RBIs with 51."The top four batters are doing their job by getting hits," Schaefer said. "I come to the plate focused because there are runners on base."Also, Southeast third baseman Tom Breuer added three hits while driving in as many runs.

Freshman pitcher David Michel (7-1) was the first game winner, beating Austin Peay's Steve Cornelison (1-2). Michel enjoyed a strong showing by striking out eight Austin Peay hitters. He was particularly impressive in the later innings."I usually feel stronger in the last three or four innings; I don't know why," Michel said. "I'm probably more aggressive in the later innings."Reliever Jason Rice (2-3), who pitched just one and one-third innings was the game two winner for the Govs. Troy Pehle (6-2) was the loser for Southeast.

In the first game, Southeast opened scoring in the bottom of the third when Robinson tripled to the center field fence with one out before scoring on a Jeff Bebej double to left. Breuer followed with a single to score Bebej.

Austin Peay took back one run in the fourth when a run scored on a sacrifice fly by Nate Manning. The Governors tied things 2-2 next time up when Al Bolden doubled in a run.

The Indians permanently reclaimed the lead in their half of the fifth. Kris Blum and Bebej each singled before Crosnoe walked the bases loaded with two outs to set up Schaefer, who sent a bouncing shot to left for an RBI single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Southeast added an insurance run to close scoring when Breuer smacked a bases-loaded single with two outs.

Michel sent the Govs down in order in the top on the seventh, the final two on strikeouts.

Austin Peay's Kris Runk hit an RBI single in the top of the seventh to break a 5-5 tie and lift his to the second game win."You've got to give Austin Peay credit for hanging in there and getting some hits," said Southeast head coach Mark Hogan. "I though tonight they did what they needed to do to win the ball game."Austin Peay jumped out 2-0 in the top of the first on a pair of hits and an throwing error by Southeast pitcher Larry Rothweil on the pickoff move to first base. Southeast got on the board with and RBI single by Breuer the same inning.

The Govs added another run in the fourth, but Southeast scored twice in the innings on an error by the Austin Peay third baseman Manning.

Manning slammed a two-run homer over the left field fence with one out in the sixth to shift to advantage back to the Govs 5-3 but the Indians promptly took them back when runs scored on a Schaefer triple and a bunt single by Scott Hopper.