Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (April 28, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State baseball team concluded its most successful week of the season today as it swept a double-header from Austin Peay by the scores of 8-6 and 6-2. The Tribe swept the three-game series from the pre-season OVC No. 1 Govs.

SEMO won game one with the help of a four-run fifth inning. They scattered four more runs and starter Brandon Smith went six and two-thirds of an inning to claim his eighth win of the season, his second this week. Smith allowed only five earned runs, while striking out seven and walking only four.

Senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla provided the pop as he went 2-3 with two runs scored and three RBI's, including a double and a walk. Junior right fielder Ryan Govek went 3-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, while senior centerfielder Vern Hatton went 2-3 with two RBI's and a run scored. The two hits extended Hatton's hit streak to 19 games at that point.

Southeast allowed three runs in the first as Peay jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead. Smith hit the first batter and walked the next. Michael Johnson then advanced on an error by Smith as he laid down a bunt to advance the runners. Joseph Peer scored on the play. Johnson then stole second and Smith walked the next batter. Chris Hyde came up next and reached on a fielder's choice but advanced to second on an error by first baseman Eric Hoffman. Two runs scored on the play bringing the score to 3-0. All the runs would score without the benefit of a single hit in the inning.

Southeast answered with a run of its own in the first as Hatton singled in Bonilla. The scored again in the third Hatton came up and hit a towering homer over the scoreboard in left field. The tribe scored four more runs in the fourth as junior designated hitter David Lawson started the inning with a single up the middle. Hoffman reached on an error advancing Lawson to third. Govek came up next with an infield single to the left side, driving in Lawson and moving Hoffman up to second.

What transpired next would have to go down as one of the most exciting plays of the season. With two runners on, Bonilla lined a shot to left field scoring Hatton and Govek, but the relay throw to second went into right field allowing Bonilla to go from second to home to complete the unconventional four bagger.

Southeast scored runs in each of the next two innings topped off by a Brian Hopkins home run to right field. They would allow three more Peay runs, but hold off the Govs for the win.

Game two started off like the pitchers duel everyone was expecting from the first two games as Southeast starter Tim Alvarez and Peay starter Tony Mathews combined to allow only one run through four innings. Peay got on the board first in the fourth as Frank Kunich laid down a bunt to sacrifice home Ben Fuller.

Southeast scored two runs in the fifth and four in the sixth knocking the Peay starter out of the game. Southeast got runs in the fifth on a double by Lawson and a sacrifice fly from junior third baseman Denver Stuckey. They got right back into the scoring game in the sixth as Hatton singled to right field, moving his hitting streak to 20 games. Junior catcher Tristen McDonald singled up the middle moving Hatton up to second. Govek walked to load the bases and Hoffman walked again to drive in the winning run. Lawson was next hit in the helmet by a pitch driving in McDonald. Stuckey then came up and singled up the middle scoring Hoffman and Govek.

Southeast got excellent relief pitching in the man of senior Mark Frazier. After getting the save in game one, Frazier came in with the game tied and pitched the final inning and two-thirds for his third victory of the season. Alvarez went five and a third allowing only two runs on six hits, and striking out two.

Govek walked twice in the game and scored twice, as well. The Tribe received single hits from Stuckey, Hatton, McDonald, Hoffman and Lawson. Stuckey had three RBI's in the game.

Southeast next travels to Saint Louis on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. non-conference battle with the Billikens of Saint Louis University. They then go off to Cookeville, Tenn. this next weekend for an OVC weekend series with Tennessee Tech.