Box Score

Paducah, Ky. (May 23, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians lost its first game in the 2002 OVC Baseball Tournament today as the Thoroughbreds of Murray State University in ten innings, 4-3.

Murray started the scoring by getting a home run from Alex Stewart over the left field fence. The home run was the first of the season for Stewart.

The Tribe tied up the score in the fourth as senior catcher Tristen McDonald singled home senior center fielder Vern Hatton. Senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla also had his 200th walk of his career in the inning.

Murray got two more runs in the bottom of the fifth after two consecutive singles, junior starter Tim Alvarez gave up another hit up the middle scoring two as Hatton's throw from center took McDonald up the line causing a collision with the runner and McDonald could not hold on to the ball.

Bonilla led off the sixth with walk no. 201. Junior left fielder Brian Hopkins hit a monsterous home run over the left field scoreboard to get to within one. Bonilla then led off the eighth with walk no. 202. Hatton followed with a hit a high chopper over the first baseman's glove and stretched it to a double, moving Bonilla up to third. Murray then intentionally walked McDonald. The bases were loaded for Hopkins and he hit into a fielder's choice forcing Bonilla out at home. Lawson then struck out looking to ending the inning.

The Tribe got the tying run across in the ninth as Stuckey got on by a fielder's choice. He was in motion for Bonilla as Bonilla doubled down the right field line scoring Stuckey.

Murray got a runner on by error in the bottom of the ninth, but the runner was erased as he tried to steal, but was thrown out by McDonald. Frazier got the next runner to ground out to second and the final batter to ground out to short. The Indians threatened with bases loaded in the top of the 10th but couldn't get the run home.

Murray got two runners on in the bottom of the 10th on an error and a hit by a pitch. But a controversial call delayed the game for ten minutes. Murray had a defensive replacement in the top of the tenth, but Coach Mark Hogan argued the umpires never notified either bench, thus making the replacement that had just been hit by the pitch, out. The umpires ruled in Murray's favor and on the next pitch McDonald let the ball go to the backstop. Murray then got a grounder to Bonilla in a drawn in infield but the throw to the plate was not in time, giving the game to Murray.

Frazier pitched 4.1 innings of relief allowing only two hits and the final run of the game while striking out six hitters. Alvarez started the game and went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs, one earned, and striking out two.

Southeast got a 2-5 day from both Hatton and Lawson. They got RBI's from Bonilla, McDonald, and Hopkins. Bonilla had three walks in the game and had the game tying double. His three walks made 202 for his career.

Southeast plays next at 11 a.m. Thursday and will play the loser of the Austin Peay - Tennessee Tech game slated for 7 p.m. tonight.