SOUTHEAST DEFEATS MIZZOU FOR 2ND TIME THIS YEAR, 9-6

COLUMBIA -- Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team got two home runs from Jeremy Johnson and set a school record for victories Wednesday evening as the Indians knocked off host Missouri 9-6.

Southeast improved its record to 33-14 by prevailing in its final non-conference game of the season. The Indians, who won both meetings with the Tigers this year, now have recorded the most single-season wins in school history. The 1995 and 1998 squads both won 32 games.

"It's really exciting, considering how long baseball has been played at this school, to set the record for wins," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "It says a lot about the type of players and the type of people we have on this team."

Johnson and Charlie Marino continued their individual battle for the team and Ohio Valley Conference home-run title. Johnson now has 18 homers to set the OVC pace while Marino, who also homered Wednesday, has 17.

Both players are also now well within striking distance of the school's single-season homer mark of 21, set by Marino in 1998.

Phil Warren also homered for the Indians Wednesday, his fifth of the season.

The Indians had 11 hits, led by Johnson and Darin Kinsolving with three each. Marino and Warren added two apiece. Johnson drove in four runs while Marino and Warren both had two RBIs.

Missouri, which fell to 29-22, banged out 12 hits, led by Landon Brandes with three. Brandes and Ryan Stegall both homered for the Tigers.

Southeast fell behind 4-0 in the second inning, but the Indians battled back and eventually forged a 5-5 tie on Marino's two-run homer in the fourth.

The Indians went ahead 6-5 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Zach Borowiak, but the Tigers tied it in the bottom of the frame on a leadoff homer by Brandes.

That set the stage for a three-run Johnson homer in the eighth that broke the deadlock and sent Southeast on its way. With one out, Denver Stuckey singled and Kevin Meyer walked. Johnson then belted his blast to the opposite field in left.

Jeffrey Hilz, the fourth Southeast pitcher, totally dominated the Tigers as he improved his record to 7-2. Hilz, who set a school record for appearances in a season with 24, struck out four and allowed just one hit in 2 1/3 shutout innings to end the contest.

Southeast starter Ronnie Lewallen gave up four hits and four runs in 1 2/3 innings, but Brandon Smith settled things down with 3 1/3 impressive innings, allowing four hits and just one run. Augie Casson gave up three hits and one run in 1 2/3 innings before giving way to Hilz.

The Indians will end the regular season this weekend with a three-game home series against Eastern Kentucky that will decide the OVC championship. Eastern Kentucky leads second-place Southeast by 1 1/2 games in the league race.