SEMO BASEBALL TEAM SUFFERS WEEKEND SWEEP

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. -- It was a weekend that Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team would probably just as soon forget.

The Indians, after dropping a Saturday doubleheader, were routed 12-6 Sunday as host Middle Tennessee State completed a three-game Ohio Valley Conference sweep.

Southeast is now 18-25 overall and 9-9 in OVC play. The Raiders improved to 25-18 overall and 12-6 in the conference as they remained one-half game behind league-leading Tennessee Tech (14-7).

The Indians, who began the weekend series tied with MTSU for second place in the league, are now in a three-way tie for fourth place with Eastern Illinois and Austin Peay, all one game behind third-place Eastern Kentucky (10-8).

Sunday's loss marked MTSU's second lopsided triumph in the series. The Raiders had won Saturday's doubleheader 12-3 and 10-9.

MTSU, as had been the case in Saturday's opener, jumped on top early Sunday and never looked back. The Raiders led 6-1 after three innings, saw Southeast pull to within 7-5 in the fifth and then iced the victory with a five-run sixth.

The Raiders, who hit five home runs during Saturday's twin bill, belted three more out of the park Sunday as they banged out 15 hits. Andrew Thompson drove in five runs and hit his ninth homer while Will Fraley joined Thompson in getting three hits. Clay Snellgrove and Wayne Chinapen also homered.

Southeast had 14 hits and finally got its first home runs of the series, Brian Pepper's third of the season and Kyle Yount's second. LaMonte Collier continued his hot hitting with three hits while Lance Craft also had three. Steve Goodman, Mike Miller and Brad Hoehner all added two hits.

Indian starter Jason Swearingen (4-4) suffered the loss. He allowed seven hits and six runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Troy Pehle gave up five hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings while David Michel allowed three hits and one run over the final three frames.

MTSU starter Jamie Powers (4-2) was the winner. He allowed nine hits and five runs in five innings. Chad Kirby hurled the final four frames, giving up five hits and one run.

The Indians will return to action Tuesday when Arkansas-Little Rock comes to Capaha Park for a 3 p.m. non-conference game. Then Wednesday, Southeast will host Missouri in a 7 p.m. contest that will feature `Bud Night' festivities sponsored by River Eagle Distributing.