Box Score

Morehead, Ky. (May 18, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians Baseball team assured itself today of winning each of its OVC series' this season as they swept the first two games of its series with the Eagles of Morehead State, 9-3 and 9-2.

The Indians faced a team in Morehead that was the leading home run team in the conferences history, but out homered the Eagles 5-2. Southeast got homers on the day from Senior centerfielder Vern Hatton who had two, freshman first baseman Eric Hoffman, who hit a grand slam, junior second baseman David Lawson, who hit his first homer at SEMO, and junior catcher Tristen McDonald, who hit his team-leading 8th dinger of the season.

Junior third baseman Denver Stuckey went 3-4 in the first game and 1-3 in the second game to extend his hitting streak to 16 games. He also led off each game with a hit, making it 12-straight games leading off the game by getting on base. Senior DH Clemente Bonilla had two hits in the first game and a hit in the finale to run his hitting streak to 12 games.

The Tribe received strong pitching performances from both starters, junior Donnie Fuller and senior Brandon Smith. Fuller went five innings allowing two runs, both earned, on seven hits, while striking out five and walking two. Smith also went five innings allowing the same two earned runs, but struck out four and walked none to earn his 10th win of the season. Fuller moved his record to 2-1 on the season. Juniors Andy Davidson and Tim Alvarez pitched two innings of relief each. Alvarez allowed on hit and no runs to move his team and OVC leading ERA to 2.88.

The first game saw Southeast get on the board first as Stuckey doubled to right center off the wall to start the game. Bonilla followed with a single off the wall of his own driving in Stuckey, by was thrown out at second trying to stretch it to a double. The Indians would let in two Morehead runs over the next three innings, but would break the game open in the fourth as seven runs crossed the plate.

Hatton started the scoring with one of his two homers on the day. McDonald followed up with a shot of his own, both to the short porch in right field. Junior left fielder Brian Hopkins then doubled to left center and was moved to third on a single up the middle by Lawson. Hoffman then singled to right field scoring Hopkins and moving Lawson up to second. Junior right fielder Ryan Govek then did what no one in the park had expected. With all the power being displayed, he laid down a perfect bunt inside the third base line advancing both runners and legging out a single.

Stuckey then hit his second hit of the day to right center scoring Lawson. Bonilla followed that up with a single to right field scoring Hoffman. Junior shortstop Zach Borowiak was hit by a pitch on his left hand forcing in another run, but swelling may limit the use of the hand in the OVC Tournament. The Tribe scored another run on a wild pitch moving the score to 8-2 at that point. They scored one more run in the fifth and allowed another in the seventh in winning the game.

The second game started the same as the first with a Stuckey hit. They would not score, however, until the second inning when Hatton and Lawson had doubles scoring Hatton. They got five in the fourth inning, moving the total to 12 runs scored in the fourth today. Hopkins started things off with a single through the left side and was moved up on a wild pitch. Hatton walked behind him and McDonald singled to load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Brice Nicholas walked in a run, and Hoffman followed up with his first grand slam of his career.

Morehead got two back in their half of the fourth as left fielder Bubba Lavender doubled into left field and third baseman Kevin Matuszek homered to right. After two singles, Smith struck out a batter and then induced a 543 double play to end the inning and the treat, one of five double plays on the day.

Southeast scored three more on a homer from Hatton, his second of the day and a double from senior shortstop Matt Baldwin along with a slew of singles from the rest of the Tribe.

Southeast took both games and look to tomorrow to sweep the finale as a win by the Tribe will pit them against the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky and a loss would put the Eagles of Morehead in the Indians sights. First pitch is slated for noon Sunday.