Box Score

Paducah, Ky. (May 24, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians Baseball team won the second game of the day and advanced to the Championship game of the 2002 OVC Baseball Championship by defeating Tennessee Tech 9-2.

Southeast got on the board first as with junior left fielder Brian Hopkins on base, senior center fielder Vern Hatton hit a shot off the scoreboard in left field for a two-run shot. The Tech starter, Dusty Eubanks, then allowed junior catcher Tristen McDonald to reach on an error, and gave up a single to junior shortstop Zach Borowiak.

Hatton led off the third with a single up the middle through the pitcher's legs and was followed up by a home run to deep right center by McDonald. Borowiak then hit a double off the left field fence. Junior DH David Lawson singled up the middle scoring Borowiak. That brought about a pitching change for Tech as coach Aaron Carroll brought in lefty David Jackson.

Freshman first basemen Eric Hoffman then had a perfect sacrifice bunt to move over Lawson and junior right fielder Ryan Govek hit a fly to center moving over Lawson. Junior third baseman Denver Stuckey then bunted the ball up the line to third and scored Lawson, while beating the throw at first. That moved the score to 6-0 after two and a half innings.

Tech got one run in their half of the third, but the Tribe turned a 463 double play to end the inning and the threat.

Hatton got a one out hit to left field in the fourth and was moved to second as McDonald reached on an error by the Tech shortstop. Hatton scored and McDonald moved to third on a double down to the left field corner by Borowiak, his second of the game. That brought up Lawson and he singled up the middle driving in both McDonald and Borowiak. That moved the score to 9-1 after three and a half.

Tech got one run in the seventh, but junior pitcher Donnie Fuller shut down the Golden Eagle's offense for the complete-game and the Indians advanced to the finals of the 2002 OVC Baseball Tournament.

Fuller went all nine, allowing two runs, one earned, and striking out eight, while walking none. Lawson had three RBI's and two hits while scoring once on the day. Hatton had three hits and three RBI's while scoring two also. The Tribe got two RBI's and hits from McDonald to help fuel the nine run game.

Southeast will now advance to the finals of the OVC Baseball Tournament for the fifth time in seven years, all under coach Mark Hogan. The Tribe will sit back and wait for the winner of a game between Eastern Illinois and Tennessee Tech. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.