Box Score

Paducah, Ky. (May 19, 2002) - After getting down 5-0 after two innings, the Southeast Missouri State Indians baseball team came from behind to take the first game in the 2002 OVC Baseball Tournament, 9-6. The team will face the loser of the Austin Peay - Murray State game set to take place tonight at 7 p.m.

Neither team scored until the third inning as Morehead jumped out to a 4-0 lead. Catcher Nate Lowe walked to lead off the inning. After a wild pitch, Lowe advanced to second, then was drove home by centerfielder Casey Gilvin. Left fielder Bubba Lavender singled and third baseman Kevin Matuszek hit a home run over the left field fence. Senior pitcher Brad Purcell rebounded to get the next batter to ground out to first, then got a strike out to end the inning.

The Eagles scored another run making the score 5-0 in the fourth. The Tribe got two runners on in the bottom of the fourth for junior catcher Tristen McDonald as the Aussie unloaded on a fastball from the Morehead pitcher and deposited it over the left field fence, moving the score to 5-3.

Morehead switched pitchers in the fifth bringing in Rick Lowe. Sophomore right fielder Brice Nicholas walked in the fifth and was moved to second as junior third baseman Denver Stuckey reached on an error by the second baseman. Senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla then lined a shot into left center scoring Nicholas and moving Stuckey to third. Hatton then recorded an infield single to score Stuckey and tie the game, while moving up Bonilla. The Indians would move the runners up again, but Lowe recovered and got the final two outs.

Junior DH David Lawson started the sixth by doubling to the right center wall. He moved up to third as Nicholas bunted for a single down the third base line. Stuckey then took the pitch to deep right center for a sacrifice fly driving in Lawson. Nicholas stole second getting in scoring position and Bonilla walked to put two on. The walk was number 199 on Bonilla's career. Junior shortstop Zach Borowiak lined a shot into right center scoring Nicholas and moving Bonilla to third. The Indians plated two runs in the inning taking the lead, 7-5. The Eagles threatened in the seventh as with Bubba Lavender at second a single up the middle turned into a double play as the throw from Hatton to the plate was up the line. Lavender didn't touch home and McDonald tagged him out, while this was happening, the runner at first was trying to advance to second, and McDonald threw to Borowiak to record the final out of the inning.

Southeast got two more runs in the eighth as Bonilla drove in Hoffman and Borowiak drove in Bonilla in successive at bats.

Junior pitcher Tim Alvarez came into the game in the ninth looking for his second save of the season. Alvarez got two fly ball outs to start the inning, but walked Cary Page. He rebounded, however, to get Renaker to ground to Bonilla to force out Page at second.

Purcell threw eight innings allowing six runs, all earned, while striking out seven and walking only four. Alvarez had a flawless ninth walking one, but recording his second save of the season.

McDonald's home run netted him three RBI's, and was his only hit. Hatton went 3-5 on the day with a run scored and an RBI, as Bonilla and Borowiak each had two RBI's.

Southeast next plays the loser of the Austin Peay - Murray State game tomorrow at three p.m.