Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (April 27, 2002) - It seems as though Mother Nature has a sense of humor in not letting a weekend go by without a little rain, but Southeast Missouri got through the weather today and beat the visiting Governors from Austin Peay by the score of 14-9.

Today's game was supposed to be two seven-inning games, but before the game could even start, expected wet conditions forced the format to be changed to two games tomorrow and one today. That seemed smart as today's game was delayed for just over an hour, as rain and lightning stormed through the area.

When all was said and done the Indians came out on top of a 14-9 victory and lengthened their lead in the conference. Senior pitcher Brad Purcell through seven innings, allowing seven runs, all earned, and struck out ten, while walking just two batters for his seventh victory of the season. He through 132 pitches in the game. Junior Donnie Fuller and Senior Mark Frazier through the final two innings to secure the win. Frazier allowed only one hit and struck out three, walking none.

Junior left fielder Brian Hopkins was the offensive fireplug for the day as he went 3-4 with four RBI's, two runs scored, a home run and a walk. Senior centerfielder Vern Hatton had a 2-4 day with three RBI's, three runs scored and a home run of his own, extending his hitting streak to 18 games. Junior catcher Tristen McDonald was perfect on the day going 3-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored, raising his team-leading average to .380. Every run today came with two outs on the board.

After an early Peay run, Southeast came back with two of their own in the first and five in the second to jump out to an early 7-3 lead. With two outs, junior shortstop Zach Borowiak doubled to left center. Hatton walked and was followed by a McDonald single to right field scoring Borowiak and moving Hatton to third. Hopkins singled to left to drive in Hatton for the second run.

Southeast allowed two more runs in the top of the second, but answered with five of its own in the bottom of the inning. Bonilla walked to start things off in the second Borowiak reached on a fielder's choice, moving Bonilla up to third. Hatton followed with an infield single to score Bonilla. McDonald had another infield single scoring Borowiak. Hopkins then stepped in and delivered the big blow of the game as he launched a shot over the right field fence for a three-run job.

Southeast went down quietly in the third, but busted out the hittin' sticks in the fourth as they put across five more runs. With two outs, McDonald singled up the middle. He was followed by a Hopkins' single moving McDonald to third and sending Hopkins to second on the throw. McDonald scored on a wild pitch and Hopkins moved up to third to bring in Nicholas to the plate. He reached on a pivotal error by the pitcher allowing Hopkins to score.

What followed were three more unearned runs. Freshman first baseman Eric Hoffman doubled to right center scoring Nicholas on the play. That brought about a pitching change as the Tribe had knocked out Peay's best pitcher in Mike Weel after only 3.2 innings. The new pitcher Adam Muston promptly walked junior designated hitter David Lawson and gave up a hard double to junior third baseman Denver Stuckey down the right field line. Stuckey would end up at third on a bad throw from the outfield. Hoffman and Lawson both scored on the play.

Southeast got its final two runs in the seventh as with two outs Borowiak started the fun with a double down the right field line. That, however, brought about the rain and started a one hour and one minute delay. After the rain had stopped and the delay was over, Hatton stepped into the box and deposited the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a two-run shot. He stayed with a curve ball hitting the ball hard to right center.

Peay scored three times in the seventh and twice in the ninth but couldn't get much more going as the Tribe put down the Govs for their eighth win in conference and 20th overall.

Peay moves to 20-21, 5-5 in the OVC, with Southeast moving its record to 20-14, 8-2 in the conference. Both teams go at it again tomorrow with two seven-inning games on the schedule to begin at 1 p.m. at Capaha Field.