May 16, 2004

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State baseball team had its six-game winning streak snapped this afternoon at Capaha Field by the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. TTU (15-28, 10-14 OVC) used an eight-run eighth inning to beat the Indians 11-4.

Southeast (24-24, 13-10 OVC) fell behind in the fourth inning 1-0 on an RBI groundout by freshman left fielder Justin Showalter which scored junior catcher Britt Clubb.

Southeast would counter with a solo run of its own in the bottom of the fifth when junior shortstop Ernie Bracamonte worked his way on with a base on balls before coming around to score on Frankie Montiel's 19th double of the season. Montiel and Bracamonte would each finish the day 2-for-4 with a walk.

Junior hurler Anthony Maupin (6-6) was strong through the first six innings, allowing just the one run on five hits. However, he ran into a bit of trouble in the seventh, as two Golden Eagles scored in the frame. Showalter came home on a Kenny Stiles RBI-double and junior third baseman Philip Hatch scored on a Grant French RBI sacrifice fly, giving TTU a 3-1 lead.

But it was the eighth inning that doomed Southeast. Tennessee Tech sent 12 batters to the plate, scoring eight runs on seven base hits, including a two-run home run by sophomore first baseman Brent Bilodeau. Maupin faced the first five batters in the seventh, but recorded just one out before giving way to freshman Matt Carter. Along with Bilodeau's home run, the other big blow in the inning was a bases-clearing double by French that scored three Tech runs. By the end of the frame, the Golden Eagles had built a 11-1 lead with starter Collins Hughes still going strong on the mound.

Hughes would give up a pair of runs to Southeast in the bottom of the eighth. Junior left fielder Eric Horstman and Bracamonte would each drive in two-out runs with RBI-singles. Horstman finished out the day 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk. The Tribe's leadoff hitter is tops on the team with a .348 batting average and is currently on a team-best five-game hitting streak.

Hughes (3-3), the only senior on the Tech squad, went eight full innings for the win, allowing three earned runs while striking out nine Southeast batters. In the ninth, Southeast scored a run off freshman hurler Adam Cloar. Junior Bryan Kurt led off the inning with a pinch-hit single and later came around to scored on an Andres Fernandez RBI-sacrifice fly. Kurt is now 3-for-4 in pinch hitting appearances for the Indians. Fernandez, who entered the game in the eighth inning, was 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored, moving his season batting average to .312.

Tennessee Tech's leadoff hitter, and top offensive threat, Branadon Selvog was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles off the left-field wall. The junior shortstop also had a run scored and was intentionally walked twice.

Southeast had numerous opportunities early in the game, as they received seven walks from Hughes and combined for 10 hits in the game. However, the Indians left 13 base runners stranded in the game.

The game was the final contest for Southeast at home this season. The Indians will next travel to Columbia, Mo., to take on the University of Missouri (30-20-1) Wednesday night at 6 p.m. After that, Southeast will head to Tennessee-Martin on Friday and Saturday for the final three games of the season before entering OVC Tournament play in Paducah, Ky.