Box Score

Cape Girardeau, Mo. (May 11, 2002) - Going into today's double-header with the Panthers of Eastern Illinois, the Southeast Missouri State Indians baseball team needed to win both games to clinch at least a tie for its first ever OVC title. Senior pitchers Brad Purcell and Brandon Smith made sure of that as they shut down the Panthers and helped the Tribe to a pair of wins, 9-2 and 7-1. With a little help from Eastern Kentucky and Murray State, Southeast claimed the title outright.

The first game saw Purcell pitch a gem as he allowed only two runs on six hits, while striking out six in the complete-game victory. Junior left fielder Brian Hopkins had two home runs in the game as part of a four-RBI game as junior catcher Tristen McDonald had a dinger of his own to make three home runs in the game for Southeast.

The Tribe scored first in the first game, moving its record to 12-0 when doing so. Hopkins hit a no-doubter to left field that cleared the fence with plenty of room to spare. They got two more in the third as junior third basemen Denver Stuckey had a bunt single to start things off and senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla followed with a single of his own to right field advancing Stuckey to third.

Senior centerfielder Vern Hatton drove in Stuckey with a hit to left advancing Bonilla to second. McDonald was walked and with the bases loaded Hopkins was hit with a pitch to drive in Bonilla for the second run of the inning.

Southeast got two more in the fifth as McDonald doubled down the right field line to start the inning. Hopkins then cracked his third hit of the day to right center driving in McDonald. Hopkins then stole second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher. He was then drove in by freshman first baseman Eric Hoffman.

The Tribe broke the game wide open in the sixth as four men crossed the plate. Bonilla singled to start the inning and was sacrificed to third by junior shortstop Zach Borowiak. Hatton then got his eight triple of the season, tying a Southeast record, to score Bonilla. McDonald followed that up with a two-run dinger to right field scoring himself and Hatton. Hopkins followed that performance with a homer of his own over right for his second blast of the game. The back-to-back shots were the first time two Indians hit consecutive home runs since Borowiak and Hatton each went deep at Southern Illinois. That would be all the support Purcell needed as the Australian shut down the Panthers to record his ninth win of the season.

Game two was much of the same. Smith allowed one run in the first, but shut down the Panthers for the rest of the game to record a complete-game victory for the Tribe. Sophomore Brice Nicholas went deep to center field for his third homer of the season and Bonilla went 2-3 in the game raising his average to .311 on the year.

Southeast got things started in the first as after a quick Eastern run in the opening frame, they came back with three of their own. Stuckey walked to start the game, breaking his string of six-straight games leading off the game with a hit. Bonilla singled to left field advancing Stuckey to second. Hatton was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. McDonald then hit a sacrifice fly to right field driving in Stuckey. With a base open, the Panthers decided to intentionally walk Hopkins to get to junior DH David Lawson. Lawson made them pay as he lined a shot up the middle threw Hatton's legs scoring both Bonilla and Hatton.

The Tribe got two more in the second as Nicholas homered to center to start things off. Stuckey then singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch and Bonilla walked behind him. Borowiak sacrificed over both of the runners. Stuckey would be out at home on a fielder's choice hit into by McDonald, and Hopkins walked with the bases loaded, driving in Bonilla.

Two more runs scored in the fourth for the Tribe as Bonilla doubled down the right field line to start things off. Borowiak then reached on an error by the left fielder and advanced to second on the throw. Bonilla moved up to third on the play. Hatton then doubled down the left field line scoring both Borowiak and Bonilla.

Smith allowed six hits over the first three innings but only two the last four. He allowed only one run and struck out seven, while walking none.

Southeast now looks to the finale tomorrow on Mother's Day and it will also be senior day for the seven seniors on this year's team. Each senior will be introduced before the game and their accomplishments will be read. The game begins at 1 p.m. with the festivities to start around 12:45.