SEMO KNOCKS OFF MURRAY STATE TWICE

MURRAY, Ky. -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team escaped a major early jam Sunday and wound up winning two important Ohio Valley Conference games against host Murray State.

The Indians lost Saturday's opener of a doubleheader 6-5. The squads were then tied 2-2 after seven regulation innings of the nightcap when play was suspended due to darkness.

Play continued Sunday and, after Southeast was retired in the top of the eighth inning, the Thoroughbreds appeared on the verge of ending things in the bottom of the eighth when they loaded the bases with one out against Mark Frazier.

But Frazier escaped the jam and the Indians went on to score in the top of the ninth as they posted a 3-2 victory.

Southeast then won Sunday's regularly-scheduled contest 7-3. The Indians improved to 19-9 overall and 4-2 in OVC play while dropping the Thoroughbreds to 16-14-1 overall and 3-6 in the league.

"These are two really big wins for us," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan.

After Frazier got out of trouble in the eighth inning of the suspended game, the Indians received consecutive doubles from Brice Nicholas and Matt Baldwin to go ahead in the ninth. Frazier then retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to end things.

Frazier improved to 2-0 with two innings of one-hit relief.

Brad Purcell started and was strong, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out seven and walking one in 4 1/3 innings.

The Indians also got a stellar relief performance from Brandon Smith, who worked 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball to keep things tied Saturday and set the stage for Sunday.

Southeast had 11 hits, two each by Nicholas, Denver Stuckey, Vern Hatton and Tristen McDonald.

Garner Byars had three of MSU's seven hits.

In Sunday's regularly scheduled contest, Tommy Thomas pitched all seven innings and the Indians got big home runs from Hatton and Jeff Bourbon to steadily pull away.

Thomas, who entered the contest with an impressive 3.12 earned-run average despite a sub-par record, improved to 3-5. He allowed seven hits and two earned runs while fanning four and walking two.

Southeast jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead, the big blow being Hatton's two-run homer, his team-high fourth of the season.

The Indians were clinging to a 3-2 advantage when Bourbon came through with his third homer of the year in the fifth inning, a three-run shot that gave Thomas some breathing room.

Clemente Bonilla and McDonald each doubled twice to lead the Indians' seven-hit attack.

Byars remained hot for the Thoroughbreds with two more hits.

Southeast will return to action Tuesday when the University of Missouri visits Capaha Field for a 6 p.m. non-league contest.