SEMO BASEBALL SQUAD FALLS SHORT OF SERIES SWEEP

As closely contested as the entire series was, it's perhaps only fitting that Middle Tennessee was able to finally knock off Southeast Missouri State University Sunday afternoon.

The Raiders, who were swept in Saturday's doubleheader 3-2 and 2-0, avoided a weekend sweep with an 8-5 victory in front of nearly 900 fans at sunny Capaha Field.

Southeast, losing at home for the first time all season after 13 straight wins at Capaha, fell to 20-8 overall and 6-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Indians are in second place in the nine-team league.

MTSU, the preseason OVC favorite, improved to 17-16 overall and 5-3 in the league.

"It's very difficult to sweep a ballclub, especially a ballclub with the caliber of players Middle Tennessee has," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "In our league, two out of three (in every series) will get you where you want to be.

"I wish we would have won today, but I'm very pleased with our ballclub."

After Saturday's doubleheader was dominated by the pitchers on both squads -- MTSU had only 12 hits in the two games while Southeast managed just seven -- Sunday's contest had much more of an offensive flavor.

The Raiders -- who outhit the Indians in all three games of the series -- had 12 hits, including a pair of home runs.

Bryan Peck went 4-for-5 and hit his eight home run of the season. Josh Pride, the returning OVC Player of the Year, went 3-for-5 and belted his seventh homer.

"As much as we've struggled swinging the bats, it was good to see the hitters come through," said MTSU coach Steve Peterson. "It was good to see Pride and Peck hit for some power."

Southeast had nine hits, led by Denver Stuckey's 3-for-3 performance. Stuckey, mired under .100 for the early part of the season, continues to come on as he now has his average up to .234.

"Denver keeps getting better and better," said Hogan of the redshirt freshman third baseman from Kelly High School.

Charlie Marino supplied the Indians' power as he hit a monstrous two-run homer that went way over the scoreboard in left to go along with a two-run double.

"Marino scares me to death," Peterson said.

After the teams had combined to use just five pitchers during Saturday's twin bill, each squad used four hurlers Sunday.

Kevin Davis (4-1), MTSU's second hurler, received credit for the win as he allowed no runs and two hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Brandon Smith (1-1), who actually did a nice job of keeping the Indians in the game after replacing starter Tommy Thomas, suffered the loss. Smith allowed four hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings He struck out one and walked one.

"I thought Brandon did a real good job of giving us a chance," Hogan said.

Thomas gave up four hits and three runs -- just one of which was earned -- in two-plus innings. He struck out four and walked three.

The Indians, who never led Sunday, pulled to within 3-2 on Marino's two-run bomb in the third. Marino's two-run double in the fifth tied things at 4-4.

MTSU took the lead for good with a two-run seventh, getting RBI singles from Brandon Johnson and Kyle Thomas.

The Raiders added two runs in the ninth against relievers Jeffrey Hilz and Augie Casson and carried an 8-4 lead into Southeast's final chance in the bottom of the frame.

But then things got interesting. With one out, Zach Borowiak walked and Clemente Bonilla's pop-fly double to short left put runners on second and third. Stuckey's RBI single made it 8-5, then Kevin Meyer walked to load the bases.

Up stepped Marino representing the potential winning run. On came Jamie Powers to the mound. Powers delivered a pitch that went to the screen and Bonilla broke for home from third. But the ball took a fortunate carom for the Raiders and Bonilla was caught in a rundown for the second out. Powers then fanned Marino looking to end the contest.

"We gave ourselves a chance in the ninth and that's all you can ask," said Hogan. "Clemente's an aggressive player. He won a game yesterday with his aggressiveness. It's just one of those things that happens."

The Indians will host Missouri Baptist Tuesday in a 3 p.m. non-league game.