Box Score

Paducah, Ky. (May 24, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians facing elimination today jumped out to a 6-0 lead, and finished strong to win their OVC Tournament match-up against Austin Peay in Paducah, 7-5.

Southeast got on the board first as with runners on second and third, a wild pitch scored senior catcher Tristen McDonald. The Tribe got another in the third as senior center fielder Vern Hatton hit triple number nine on the season driving home junior left fielder Brian Hopkins. The triple gives Hatton the single-season record at SEMO and ties him for the career mark at the school.

Austin Peay threatened in the fourth as third baseman Michael Johnson hit a deep shot to right center that brought sophomore right fielder Brice Nicholas to the wall as he leapt and caught the ball up against the fence for the third out of the inning.

Junior third baseman Denver Stuckey got a double to right center to start the fifth inning and moved to third on a wild pitch. Senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla walked next, moving his career total to 203. Stuckey scored the third run of the day as a wild pitch let him in. Hopkins walked and then McDonald drove a liner down the right field line scoring both Hopkins and Bonilla.

That brought about a pitching change as Peay brought in Clint Rommel to relieve Dustin Smith. Junior shortstop Zach Borowiak then put a bunt down the third base line to drive in McDonald and beat the throw to first for the single. Borowiak then stole second.

Peay got a run in the seventh, but SEMO got one back of their own on a double down the left field line scoring Bonilla, who had reached after being hit by a pitch.

A single and an error put runners on the corners for Peay in the eighth as shortstop Joseph Peer and Peer hit a fly to center to sacrifice home the runner. A walk put runners on first and second for Johnson and he didn't miss this time as the third baseman deposited the ball over the left field wall. An error by Stuckey at third put catcher A.J. Ellis on first. The Govs would get another single, but would not score as they now trailed the Tribe 7-5.

Smith got the two outs in the ninth, but allowed two runners to get on. Senior Mark Frazier, then came in and shut down the door, getting Ellis to ground out to short to end the game.

Smith pitched 8.2 innings allowing five runs, four earned, and struck out seven, while walking only one. The Tribe got two hits from both Borowiak and Hopkins with Hopkins scoring twice and driving in one. Borowiak also had an RBI.

Southeast next plays at 7 p.m. tonight against Tennessee-Tech.