SE BASEBALL BUILDS MOMENTUM FOR WEEKEND SERIES AT CAPAHA

Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians, coming off a big win at Mississippi, will now gear up for a three-game weekend home series with Northern Iowa.

The Indians will face the Panthers in a noon doubleheader Saturday and a 1 p.m. single game Sunday at Capaha Field.

Southeast, after losing to Mississippi 6-4 Tuesday despite out-hitting the Rebels, picked up a thrilling 1-0 victory Wednesday, which made for an enjoyable trip back from Oxford, Miss.

"It was a huge win for our program," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan, whose squad defeated a Southeastern Conference opponent for the first time. "Ole Miss has got a heck of a team. They really swing the bats well so I was really excited about our pitching."

Wednesday's victory featured brilliant performances by two Southeast hurlers. Starter Ryan Spille, who has both of the Indians' victories, pitched six innings. Then Lanson Debrock, who is also off to an exceptional start, closed things out over the final three frames.

Spille has a 1.50 earned-run average over the early part of the season while Debrock has a 1.13 ERA.

"Both guys did a super job," Hogan said. "I'm really excited about the way Lanson is throwing. He put in the work over the summer and I really expect him to have a big season."

Hogan also liked the way Daniel Rodriguez and Danny Schiltz threw Tuesday.

"Rodriguez threw well. I probably didn't take him out quick enough," said Hogan. "And Schiltz came back after a rough outing against Creighton (last weekend)."

Leading the Indians' offense through the first five games are Jeremy Johnson (.471 batting average), Darin Kinsolving (.438), freshman Clement Bonilla Jr. (.429) and Jeff Bourbon (.313).

Johnson, Southeast's standout junior center fielder from Egyptian (Ill.) High School, is closing in on several school career records. With 37 doubles, he is just four away from the mark. And with 106 runs scored, he is only 21 off the record.

As a team, Southeast is batting just .248 and has scored just 11 runs, but Hogan isn't worried about the offense.

"Defense and pitching have been doing it for us and it's only a matter of time before our hitting comes around," he said. "I feel good about our ballclub."

The Indians will carry a 2-3 record into this weekend's series against the 2-0 Panthers. Southeast has opened the season against two rugged foes, having lost two of three to Creighton last weekend.

"We've faced two excellent foes so far but I think that's going to help us down the line," Hogan said.

Southeast will play eight of its next nine games at home, including the next four.

"Hopefully we can get on a nice roll now with so many home games coming up," said Hogan.

On the down side, Charlie Marino suffered a knee injury during Tuesday's game at Mississippi and he is listed as day-to-day. Marino, who hit 21 home runs last year to set a Southeast single-season record, is having the knee evaluated.