SEMO WINS SLUGFEST OVER SIU BY 2-POINT CONVERSION, 19-17

Mid-week, non-league college baseball games are generally plenty unpredictable and entertaining.

With teams wanting to save many of their top pitchers for weekend conference series, games played during the middle of the week are often extremely wild and high-scoring.

Such was definitely the case at Capaha Field Wednesday as Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois squared off in front of more than 1,100 fans on a gorgeous spring afternoon.

With the wind blowing out, the squads combined for nine home runs, 10 doubles, one triple and 41 hits in all before Southeast held off a late, furious SIU rally to prevail 19-17.

The Indians, who swept the two-game season series from the Salukis, improved to 25-10. The Salukis fell to 15-21.

"It doesn't get any crazier than that," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "With the wind blowing out, and both teams not wanting to go very deep in their pitching staff, I figured we might have a game like this."

Said a smiling Southeast right fielder Jeremy Johnson, "Crazy isn't the word for it."

For seven innings, things didn't look all that crazy for a mid-week game, as least not from Southeast's end.

With redshirt freshman pitcher Andy Davidson settling down after a shaky start, the Indians scored 16 unanswered runs and carried a 16-4 lead into the eighth inning.

But that's when all heck broke loose. SIU scored five in the eighth, but Southeast countered with three in the bottom of the frame to hold a seemingly safe 19-9 advantage heading to the ninth.

The Salukis, however, exploded for eight runs and they actually had the potential go-ahead run at the plate when the game ended.

Things got so wild that Hogan had to bring in relief ace Jeffrey Hilz to finally close things out. Hilz, who retired two batters, struck out Andy Cenkush looking with runners on first and second to nail down the victory.

"I definitely didn't want to bring in Hilz, but he should be in good shape for the weekend (Southeast hosts Morehead State Friday and Saturday in an Ohio Valley Conference series)," Hogan said. "If we had been in different shape on the mound, I think the final score would have been different.

"But you have to give Southern Illinois credit. They really hit the ball at the end. We didn't give them anything."

Southeast had 23 hits, including six home runs, seven doubles and a triple. The Indians, who had 16 hits during Tuesday's equally wild 10-9, 11-inning win over Arkansas State, definitely appear to have their potent offense back on track after something of a mid-season lull.

"We were struggling for a while, but we just worked hard trying to get our swing back," said Southeast left fielder Charlie Marino. "We had to come around some time. The pitchers had been picking us up and it was nice we could pick them up today."

Marino continued his recent tear by belting two more homers, giving him six in his last five games and an OVC-leading 13 for the season.

"It feels good, but I just want to win the games," said Marino of his recent long-ball binge.

Also homering for the Indians were Darin Kinsolving (his 11th of the season), Jeremy Johnson (ninth), Kevin Meyer (seventh) and Clemente Bonilla (third).

Kinsolving and Jeff Bourbon each had five hits, with both doubling twice and Bourbon also getting a triple. Bourbon drove in four runs while Kinsolving had three RBIs.

"We've put up pretty good (offensive) numbers lately and it's about time," said Kinsolving. "The pitching and defense have been picking us up and now we've picked them up."

Johnson, Marino and Meyer all had three hits while Bonilla added two. Marino drove in four runs; Meyer and Bonilla both contributed three RBIs.

On the mound, Davidson (1-0) was the star as he notched his first collegiate victory. The 6-foot-7 right-hander gave up seven hits and four runs in the first two innings but then blanked SIU on two hits over the next four frames.

In six innings, Davidson allowed nine hits while striking out four and walking two.

"After the first two innings, Andy was really in command," said Hogan. "He was definitely our bright spot in the mound."

With Southeast seemingly cruising at 19-9 after eight innings -- Ronnie Lewallen had allowed three hits and five runs in two innings after replacing Davidson -- Hogan brought in Phil Warren to pitch. Warren, who had missed the past several weeks with a broken hand, was the squad's regular designated hitter before being hurt.

Although not quite ready to swing a bat, Hogan decided to give Warren -- a high school hurler -- the opportunity to take the mound for the first time. But Warren walked two batters and allowed a home run while not recording an out.

Augie Casson replaced Warren and he gave up four hits and four runs while retiring one batter. Hilz then came on and, despite being charged with an unearned run, was able to finally close things out.

"Phil said it's a lot harder on the mound than it looks from the plate," said a laughing Hogan.

Luke Nelson had four of SIU's 18 hits. Cenkush, Jeff Houston and Jason Rainey all homered for the Salukis.

SIU starter Josh Latimer (3-7), one of seven Salukis hurlers on the day, took the loss. He allowed eight hits and eight runs in 3 2/3 innings.