SOUTHEAST TAKES BEAN BALL; ARKANSAS ST. FEELS THE PAIN

College baseball games don't get much wilder than Southeast Missouri State University's 10-9, 11-inning win over Arkansas State Tuesday.

More than 400 fans at Capaha Field saw the squads -- both named Indians -- combine for 29 hits, 16 walks and six hit batsmen in the non-conference contest.

Finally, after four hours and 13 minutes of action, the homestanding Indians pushed across two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to send the majority of the crowd home happy.

Southeast, which claimed its fourth straight win, improved to 24-10 heading into today's 3 p.m. non-league home game against Southern Illinois. ASU, which lost for the seventh consecutive time, fell to 17-21.

"It was a long day, but when you win, you don't really mind," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "I'm really proud of our club. We had to come back twice and we seem to be finding different ways to win."

In a back-and-forth affair, Southeast needed a run in the bottom of the ninth to forge an 8-8 tie and force extra innings.

Then, after ASU had gone ahead 9-8 in the top of the 11th, Southeast got two runs in the bottom of the frame to end things.

In the 11th, Kevin Meyer led off with a single and Charlie Marino walked. Jeremy Johnson then sent a ground ball to the right side, which ASU first baseman Kent Brunen fielded cleanly but threw wildly trying to force Marino at second. Meyer scored to tie the game and Southeast had runners on first and second with nobody out.

Marino then stole third and Darin Kinsolving was intentionally walked to load the bases. Southeast then used one of the game's six hit batsmen to end the marathon as Shane Allen was plunked on the helmet to force home Marino.

Southeast appeared to be cruising with a 7-5 lead in the ninth, but ASU rallied for three runs, the big blow being Kyle Brunen's two-run double.

The Indians then staged their first late comeback in the bottom of the ninth. After the first two batters were retired, Marino walked and stole second. Johnson then delivered a single up the middle that tied the contest.

Southeast banged out 16 hits. Johnson, Kinsolving and Borowiak all had three while Jeff Bourbon and Clemente Bonilla added two each. Kinsolving and Johnson both homered, their 10th and eighth of the season, respectively.

ASU had 13 hits, led by Ryan Corrigan with three. Nick Martin had the only home run for the visiting Indians.

Southeast used four pitchers and Hogan came away pleased with all of them.

Brandon Smith started and, after somewhat of a shaky beginning, settled down before running into some tough luck in the fifth, when a two-out error started a four-run uprising by ASU then ultimately forced Smith from the contest.

Smith, in 4 2/3 innings, allowed seven hits and five runs, but only one of the runs was earned. He struck out four and walked one.

"I thought Brandon threw well," Hogan said. "He got an unfortunate break in the fifth or I think he might have gone quite a bit longer."

Jeffrey Hilz, the Indians' relief ace, allowed one hit and no runs in 1 1/3 innings. He fanned two and walked one.

Todd Pennington mowed ASU down in the seventh and eighth and appeared in line for a save when he carried a 7-5 lead into the ninth.

But Pennington walked the leadoff batter and then had a 2-1 count on the next hitter when Hogan decided to replace Pennington with Augie Casson.

ASU wound up rallying against Casson, but he was able to settle down enough to go the rest of the way as Southeast was just about out of available pitchers.

Pennington, in two full innings, allowed no hits but was charged with one run. He fanned three and walked two.

Casson, who notched the win in his first decision of the season, allowed five hits and three runs in three innings. He fanned two and walked three.

"I thought Pennington threw wonderful and Casson did a good enough job to keep us in there," said Hogan. "I thought all our pitchers threw well."

Tony Arthor, the fourth of six ASU hurlers, took the loss. He fell to 2-3.

"It was not a sparkling performance by either club, but both teams played hard," Hogan said. "It's nice to win a game like this. It could be a good character builder for us."