SEMO BASEBALL FINISHES OFF BIG SWEEP OF UTM

No way could Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team have drawn up a better plan for the weekend.

The Indians entered their three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with visiting Tennessee-Martin desperately needing to sweep the last-place Skyhawks.

Mission accomplished. The Indians followed up Saturday's doubleheader victory -- by scores of 11-2 and 6-0 -- with an 11-2 romp Sunday in front of more than 750 fans at Capaha Field.

So by virtue of the Indians' resounding series sweep -- they banged out 36 hits and outscored the Skyhawks by a combined 28-4 -- Southeast has thrust itself squarely in the chase for the OVC regular-season title and a host berth for the league tournament.

"It's by far the best weekend we've had," said an extremely pleased Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We needed to sweep and when you need it, sometimes it's tough to get."

It wasn't tough for the Indians as they improved to 9-5 in the OVC and 20-21 overall. Southeast is now tied for second place with Austin Peay as both squads trail Eastern Illinois by a game.

But in the battle to host the OVC Tournament -- which Southeast did last season on its way to the tourney title -- the Indians are dead even with Austin Peay. Only teams whose home field has lights are eligible to serve as the tournament host and Eastern Illinois does not have lights.

"We really made up a lot of ground this weekend," Hogan said. "It's very satisfying."

Particularly satisfying was another stellar pitching performance by senior Chad Bogenpohl, who improved to 2-1 as he allowed seven hits and one earned run in eight innings. The right-hander struck out eight and did not walk a batter.

A former Oak Ridge High standout, Bogenpohl was bothered by arm problems last year and he primarily came out of the bullpen for the first part of this season.

But Bogenpohl was given his first start of the year last week at Saint Louis and he responded with a six-inning, 11-strikeout performance. Only the fact Southeast lost a late big lead kept him from gaining the victory.

"Bogie has done a tremendous job the last two times out," marveled Hogan.

Said Bogenpohl, "I've gotten the opportunity to start the last two games, which is what I like to do the best. I just try to let my defense do the job.

"We really needed this sweep and it feels good. We needed to take a big step forward and we did."

Bogenpohl had plenty of offensive support as the Indians banged out 14 hits, including two home runs, seven doubles and two triples.

Jeremy Johnson, surging above the .400 mark again by virtue of a big weekend, had three hits Sunday, including two doubles. He went 7-for-11 in the three-game series.

Phil Warren, Steve Lowe and Jeff Bourbon all added two hits while Lowe, Bourbon and Kyle Yount each drove in a pair of runs.

Bourbon hit his sixth homer of the season, a solo blast leading off the fourth, while Yount belted his fifth homer of the campaign, a two-run shot in the sixth.

Southeast scored single runs in each of the first four innings to take control.

UTM (3-12 OVC, 13-31 overall) pulled to within 4-2 by plating its only two runs in the sixth. But the Indians responded with four in the bottom of the sixth and they cruised from there.

The Indians will return to action Wednesday with a non-league game at Belmont. Southeast resumes OVC play next weekend at Morehead State.