YOUNT HR POWERS SOUTHEAST TO SWEEP

Kyle Yount has had some game-winning home runs before, but never on the collegiate level.

That's why he figures the blast that left Capaha Field Saturday afternoon against Bradley was really his first "big one."

"I've hit ones like that a few times in summer league ball, but never in college," said Yount with a smile. "I'd say this is really my first one. It was pretty exciting."

Exciting not only for Yount but all the Indians. The shot that cleared the right-center field fence with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the second game propelled Southeast to a thrilling 2-1 victory and a doubleheader sweep.

The Indians won the opener 9-2 as they improved to 4-6 overall. Southeast will go for a sweep of the three-game series when the squads square off at 1 p.m. today at Capaha.

"Kyle just came through for us. What a big hit," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "This is just a great win. We finally won a one-run game, which is huge. It's a relief to win one like that."

Southeast had lost three one-run games already this season and two more by a total of five runs as the Indians had held late leads in all six of their losses.

"We'd been having trouble winning close games. To get this one was big," Yount said.

The Indians were having next to no success off Bradley pitcher Brett Behrens, being limited to four hits over five innings as they trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the sixth.

When Behrens retired the first two batters in the sixth, it looked like the Indians would have to stage a last-inning rally in order to sweep.

But Robert Kern coaxed a two-out walk off Behrens. With pinch-runner Kenny Gaebler on first, Yount sent a fly ball to the opposite field that cleared the right-center field fence by only a couple of feet. It was the junior second baseman's first homer of the season and fifth of his Southeast career.

"When I hit it I felt it would go," Yount said. "That's the way I'd been trying to hit the ball. It usually carries pretty well that way and the wind was blowing out some today."

Still, Yount added with a laugh, "I wasn't totally sure. I was running hard all the way until it went out."

As happy as Yount was to hit the homer, Ryan Spille was just about as pleased. The junior lefthander might have been saddled with a tough defeat were it not for Yount's heroics.

Instead, Spille improved to 2-0 as he continued his dominating early-season form. The junior-college transfer allowed five hits and one walk while striking out five over the full seven innings. He retired the side in the seventh and kept his earned-run average at barely above the 1.00 mark.

"I was happy to see the ball go out," said Spille. "That definitely pumped me up."

Said Hogan, "We beat a very tough pitcher in the second game. He was 5-2 last year and was their top returning pitcher. He's a good one."

Southeast ace Jason Swearingen had a much easier time than Spille in also improving his record to 2-0 and keeping his ERA just under 2.00.

Swearingen scattered seven hits in the opener and did not give up a run after the second inning. The righthander, who owns several career pitching records at Southeast, fanned four and walked two.

"I had the easy game," said Swearingen with a laugh. "I got a lot of runs again. Ryan had the tough one."

The Indians had 12 hits in the opener, including three from Jeremy Johnson (who had two doubles) and Robert Kern's second home run of the season.

Yount, Charlie Marino and Dave Sommerkamp both added two hits while Yount drove in two runs to give him four RBIs on the day. Phil Warren also had two RBIs in the opener.

Southeast was held to seven hits in the nightcap, led by Darin Kinsolving with a pair of doubles.

Ruben Mojica and Chad Johnson both had three of Bradley's 12 hits on the day. The Braves, due to several rainouts, were playing their first two games of the season Saturday.

Hogan liked what he saw from his top two hurlers Saturday and that's pretty much been the case all season so far.

"That's a very solid one-two punch, especially combined with our defense," he said. "Those guys are really throwing well."

But the Indians are still searching for some reliable pitchers beyond Swearingen and Spille. Chad Bogenpohl is scheduled to get the start today.

"We're looking for a third starter, but I think we've got some guys who are very capable," Hogan said.