YELLOW JACKETS STING INDIANS WITH 5-RUN 9TH, SWEEP SERIES

ATLANTA -- After suffering two consecutive blowout losses to nationally-ranked Georgia Tech, Southeast Missouri State University's baseball Indians were in a prime position to salvage a victory here Saturday.

But the Yellow Jackets staged a stunning ninth-inning rally by scoring five runs as they beat the Indians 6-5 to complete a doubleheader sweep as well as a sweep of the three-game series.

Georgia Tech, which romped 14-4 in Saturday's opener (after rolling 13-2 Friday night) is now 28-11. The Yellow Jackets are ranked 25th in the nation by the Sporting News.

Southeast fell to 20-16 by suffering its fourth straight loss.

"This was a tough one to lose," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan after seeing his squad lead 5-1 entering Georgia Tech's final at-bat Saturday.

The second-game setback spoiled a brilliant pitching performance by Southeast lefthander Ryan Spille, who continues to stamp himself as one of the top hurlers on any level.

After Georgia Tech had hammered a collection of Southeast pitchers for 27 runs in the first two games of the series, Spille totally shut down the Yellow Jackets.

Spille, who entered the game with a 6-0 record and a 1.94 earned-run average, allowed just two hits and an unearned run while striking out 10 and walking four in six innings. He was removed following the sixth after throwing well over 100 pitches.

"He was just outstanding, as he has been all season," said Hogan.

Freshman Kenny Gaebler from Delta hit a two-run triple in the top of the sixth to give the Indians a 3-1 lead and they would go ahead 5-1 after scoring single runs in the seventh and eighth.

Lanson DeBrock, who replaced Spille on the mound, blanked Tech on one hit over two innings before the disastrous ninth.

A walk, a single and an error loaded the bases for Tech. A single drove in one run, then DeBrock fielded a grounder but threw the ball away attempting to make a force out at home, allowing two runs to score and pulling the Yellow Jackets to within 5-4.

DeBrock (1-3) then uncorked a wild pitch as the tying run scored and the winning run eventually scored on a Bryan Prince single.

Darin Kinsolving had three of Southeast's eight hits while Charlie Marino added two.

In the opener, Southeast starter Jason Swearingen (6-4) was roughed up for 11 hits and nine runs (seven earned) in five innings.

Tech built a 14-0 lead before Southeast scored all its runs in the eighth, the big blow being Jeff Bourbon's three-run homer.

Kyle Yount had three of Southeast's 11 hits, with Kinsolving and Steve Lowe both getting two.

The Indians, who entered the weekend series as the Ohio Valley Conference's top defensive team, committed 14 errors in the three games.

"For some reason our defense wasn't here and we didn't get it done all weekend," Hogan said.

Southeast will have another non-conference game Tuesday when Missouri comes to Cape Girardeau for a 6 p.m. contest.