SOUTHEAST GETS PAST MOREHEAD

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Facing a must-win situation in order to qualify for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament and continue its season, the Southeast Indian baseball team won their final regular-season game 10-8 over Morehead State.

Southeast erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth to break a 5-5 tie, then held on in the bottom of the inning for the win. The win extends the Indians' season into the OVC Tournament where the top six teams in the nine-team conference will begin play Thursday.

Southeast is now 11-13 in league play and 21-31 overall. Morehead, which entered the contest in a three-way tie for fifth place with Southeast and Eastern Kentucky, fell to 10-14 and 25-30 overall.

David Michel earned the win for Southeast in relief of starter Jason Swearingen. Michel (5-7) pitched the final 4-2/3 innings allowing five runs on six hits. He struck out five and walked one.

Leading 10-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Michel allowed back-to-back home runs by Morehead before closing out the victory.

Southeast never trailed in the contest, leading 2-0 after four innings and 5-0 after the top half of the fifth. Morehead battled back with four runs in the bottom of the inning and added a single tally in the seventh to tie the score 5-5.

Designated hitter Mike Miller (3-for-4) and catcher Brad Hoehner (2-for-5) both hit home runs for Southeast. Miller hit his fifth of the year while Hoehner knocked his fourth.

OVC batting leader LaMonte Collier went 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs as Southeast pounded 14 hits. Southeast third baseman Kyle Yount also added three hits and two RBIs.

After losing two games Saturday to Morehead, Southeast had to win the final game of the three-game series in order to qualify for the OVC tourney.