March 20, 2004

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO - Senior Gary Gilbert hit a grand slam in the third inning and junior starting pitcher Anthony Maupin (2-2) pitched a complete game to lead Southeast over Southwest Missouri State University 8-2 this afternoon . The Tribe (8-8) remained perfect at home, improving their record to 7-0 when at Capaha Field.

With no outs and the bases loaded in the third inning, SMS coach lifted starter Brett Sinkbeil for reliever Paul Marsala. On Marsala's second pitch of the game, Gilbert lifted a deep drive over the right field wall to give Southeast a 7-0 lead.

The Bears would add two in the top of the fourth before Maupin got out of a jam, stranding two SMS runners just before the game was delayed due to rain. After a 34 minute hiatus, Southeast added another run in the sixth inning and Maupin guided Southeast to its second win in a row over its in-state rival.

Junior outfielder Bryan Kurt had another multi-hit game-his third in a row. Kurt went 2-for-5 on the day, with two runs scored, and drove in a run just before Gilbert's blast in the third. Kurt now leads the team in batting average with a .432 mark. He's also hitting .450 with runners on base, and is 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Just behind Kurt is junior center fielder Frankie Montiel with a .429 batting average. The third-place hitter for the Indians had his sixth multiple-hit game in a row today, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a his first stolen base of the season. Montiel now has seven multi-hit games this year, in just a dozen games played.

Junior shortstop Ernie Bracamonte also went 3-for-4 against the Bears. He also scored a run and drove in a run in the win.

Gilbert, who also walked, finished 1-for-2 on the day with four RBI and a pair of runs scored. He now leads the team in runs driven in with 11 this season.

Every batter in the Southeast starting lineup had at least one hit, as the Indians banged out 15 on the day, which ties a season-high for the Tribe. Maupin, who pitched an inning and two-thirds in the second game of Wednesday's double header sweep against Central Michigan, earned his second complete game of the season. He gave up two runs in a complete-game loss to Alabama last week. Maupin, who struck out seven Bears and walked just one, now leads the team in innings pitched, complete games, and strikeouts. He also improved his ERA to 4.08 on the season, which leaves him second on the team behind only closer Brad Smith.

Southeast was fortunate to get to Marsala when it did. The sophomore right hander gave up just one more run in his five innings of work, while striking out a career-high 11 Southeast batters. Sinkbeil completed just two innings of work, while giving up seven hits and six runs. Junior lefthander Jeff Smith finished the game for SMS, pitching one inning of scoreless ball.

Southeast looks to make it a weekend sweep and increase its season-high team winning streak to five games tomorrow at Capaha Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.