SE UNABLE TO PLULL OFF SHOCKER; INDIANS LEAD EARLY, FALL 7-4

WICHITA, Kan. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team did not win Thursday night during its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.

But the Indians certainly gained plenty of respect from Wichita State, the No. 1 seed and host squad for the six-team Midwest Regional.

The Shockers saw six-seeded Southeast jump out to an early 4-0 lead, but they recovered for a 7-4 victory in front of 6,097 fans at nearly sold-out Eck Stadium.

Wichita State, ranked second in the nation, improved to 56-5 and will play Arkansas at 3 p.m. today as the double-elimination event continues.

Southeast, now 32-23, will face Georgia Tech at 11 a.m. today, with the Indians needing a victory to keep its season going.

Other first-round games Thursday saw third-seeded Arizona State (35-21) down fourth-seeded Arkansas (37-20) 8-4 and fifth-seeded Oklahoma State (39-19) pound second-seeded Georgia Tech (38-20) 13-4.

Tonight's game will pit Oklahoma State against Arizona State at 7.

"I told everybody, and our team knew it, that we would be in for a tough game," said Wichita State coach Gene Stephenson. "Southeast Missouri had performed well here last year (splitting a two-game series with the Shockers) and they had no reason not to feel confident.

"We were very fortunate to come out with a win."

While Southeast coach Mark Hogan was proud of his team's performance against the high-powered Shockers, who had a nation-best .375 batting average entering the game, he said the Indians did not come to the regional to earn any moral victories.

"Being in the regional for the first time is a great experience," said Hogan. "But we came here to win. We were in the ballgame the whole time. We're disappointed to lose this game."

Wichita State's bullpen was the story of the game. After starter Ben Christensen, who had been 9-0, was knocked out of the contest early, two relievers for the Shockers combined to toss 6 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings, allowing just two runners.

Jeremy Troutman (4-0) got the win, striking out two and walking one in 3 2/3 innings.

Marc Bluma, one of the nation's premier closers, earned his 11th save with three perfect innings, fanning five.

"Both our relievers did outstand jobs," Stephenson said. "I can't say enough about them. To hold them hitless after what they did in the first 2 1/3 innings is tremendous."

For Southeast, ace pitcher Ryan Spille suffered from uncharacteristic control problems.

Spille, named a third-team All-American earlier in the day, fell to 11-2 as he walked nine and gave up four hits and five runs in 3 2/3 innings.

"The first inning I was pretty much a nervous wreck, but after that I felt fine," said Spille. "I just didn't have my stuff and I couldn't put the ball where I wanted it."

Stephenson said that, although the Shockers did not hit many balls hard against Spille, their patience paid off.

"We were not able to time Spille, but we were patient and he hurt himself with the walks," said Stephenson.

Dan Huesgen gave the Indians solid relief, allowing two runs and four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

"Huesgen did an outstanding job," Hogan said.

Southeast had six hits, all over the first 2 1/3 innings. No player had more than one hit. Darin Kinsolving homered and drove in three runs.

"We got ahead, but they showed us why they're one of the top teams in the nation," said Kinsolving.

Wichita State had eight hits, well off its average. Zach Sorenson, Brian Preston and Tim Hayes all had two hits.

The Indians took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Jeremy Johnson led off with a double, moved to third on a Phil Warren ground out and scored on Kinsolving's sacrifice fly.

Southeast chased Christensen by scoring three runs in the third.

With one out, Charlie Marino singled and Kinsolving followed with a home run near the 375-foot sign in left-center. Kinsolving's 13th round tripper of the season put the Indians ahead 3-0.

Jeff Bourbon followed with his eighth homer of the campaign, just to the left of where Kinsolving's blast had gone, to put Southeast ahead 4-0.

After Kyle Yount singled for the Indians' fourth straight hit, Troutman came in from the bullpen. And that's when the Indians' offense stalled.

Spille, normally with impressive control, flirted with danger over the first two innings, walking five, but he was able to wriggle out of trouble.

Wichita State got on the board in the third on Sorenson's 16th homer, which went out to almost dead center near the 390-foot mark.

The Shockers then took the lead for good with a four-run fourth that featured three walks, three hits and an error. Preston's two-run bloop double just inside the right-field line was the blow that put the Shockers ahead and knocked out Spille.

"I think Ryan threw well as far as results with their hitters because their numbers are unbelievable," said Hogan. "The walks were probably the result of nerves."

Huesgen was able to keep the Indians close, but they could mount next to no offense against Troutman and Bluma.

Wichita State added single insurance runs in the sixth and eighth.

Now the Indians will attempt to bounce back today against a Georgia Tech team that swept Southeast in a three-game series earlier this season in Atlanta.

Southeast lost the first two games to Georgia Tech by lopsided scores of 13-2 and 14-4. The Indians then saw a 5-1 ninth-inning lead evaporate in the finale as they fell 6-5.

"Georgia Tech has a heck of a team," Hogan said. "But if we swing the bats, we can win. We want to win. We didn't come here to be the Cinderella story and go home in two games."