THOMAS, INDIANS HAVE THEIR WAY WITH UTM

MARTIN, Tenn. -- Tommy Thomas came up just a bit short of an unbelievable pitching accomplishment -- but that was about all that went wrong for Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team here Sunday.

Thomas, a junior right-hander, lost his bid for a no-hitter with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Indians completed a three-game weekend sweep of Tennessee-Martin by posting a 16-0 romp.

The Indians, now 23-10 overall, improved to 9-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play as they moved into first place in the nine-team league. Southeast leads Eastern Kentucky by percentage points.

UTM, which lost a pair of closely contested games against Southeast on Saturday, fell to 7-30 overall and 0-12 in the OVC.

"It was a great day for us," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "Our offense seems to be coming around and what can you say about Tommy. He was fantastic."

Thomas, who ranks fifth nationally in strikeouts per nine innings, carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning. But, with one out, UTM's Joe Ayers scorched a line drive that barely eluded a leaping third baseman Denver Stuckey.

The ball actually nicked off the top of Stuckey's glove and was correctly ruled a single, according to Hogan.

"That was definitely the right call," Hogan said.

Thomas, who was taken out of the game once his no-hitter was broken up, struck out 12, walked four and hit a batter as he improved to 4-1.

"They hit some balls hard off Tommy early, but about the third inning he really settled down and found his curve ball," said Hogan. "He just threw a fantastic game. You can't say enough about him."

While Thomas starred on the mound, the Indians' offense had a field day, banging out 23 hits and four home runs, including a pair of homers each by Charlie Marino and Jeremy Johnson.

Marino finished a monster weekend by going 4-for-6 Sunday, with six runs batted in. He was 10-for-14 in the three-game series and belted four out of the park to take over the team and OVC home-run lead with 11.

"Charlie put on a show this weekend," Hogan said.

Johnson also was 4-for-6 Sunday, with four RBIs, and he now has seven homers. Zach Borowiak was a third Indian to get four hits in six trips to the plate. Borowiak doubled twice.

Kevin Meyer capped a huge weekend by going 3-for-4 -- including two doubles -- making him 8-for-12 in the series.

Stuckey, Darin Kinsolving and Clemente Bonilla all added two hits for the Indians Sunday.

Southeast jumped on top in the opening inning as Meyer doubled and Marino drilled a two-run homer. In the third, Marino singled and Johnson homered to make it 4-0.

Leading 5-0, the Indians put the game away with a six-run sixth that featured six hits, including Johnson's second two-run homer of the day.

The Indians' offense continued to pour it on the rest of the way and the only suspense left was whether Thomas would be able to complete his no-hitter. He wound up just a bit short.

Southeast will return to action Tuesday when Arkansas State visits Capaha Field for a 3 p.m. non-conference game.