Box Score

Tuscaloosa, Ala. (May 31, 2002) - The Southeast Missouri State Indians Baseball team had a night of firsts as they defeated the University of Alabama in the first round of the Regional tournament tonight, 7-4. They collected the program's first-ever regional win, and provided the Tide with its first ever home regional loss.

Southeast got on the board first as junior third baseman Denver Stuckey tripled on the first pitch of the game. Junior left fielder Brian Hopkins walked behind him and senior second baseman Clemente Bonilla doubled to score both Hopkins and Stuckey. Junior catcher Tristen McDonald singled, but Bonilla was thrown out at the plate trying to score. The Tribe scored two runs on three hits in the inning.

Bama loaded the bases in the first with no outs, but could only manage one run as starting pitcher senior Brandon Smith struck out two and got another to fly out.

Southeast got two more in the second as junior DH David Lawson singled then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Eric Hoffman. That brought up junior right fielder Ryan Govek, and Govek hit his first home run at Southeast over the right field fence. That would bring the score to 4-1 after one and a half.

With the bases loaded and two outs in the second catcher Jeremy Brown hit a bases clearing double to tie the score at four. The three RBI's for Brown established a new school record at 227.

Govek and Stuckey had back to back doubles in the fourth to put southeast back on top 5-4. Stuckey then scored on a wild pitch, making the score 6-4.

Hoffman led off the sixth inning by hitting a long shot out over the right center fence. The Tide had two runners on in the sixth leading to a trip to the mound from Indian coach Mark Hogan. Hogan went to the bullpen to get junior lefty Tim Alvarez to relieve Smith. Smith went five innings allowing four runs all earned. He struck out four and walked five. Alvarez went right to work as he got a double play for the first two outs and struck out the next batter to get out of the inning.

Alvarez would hold the Tide to just one hit and no runs over the final four innings to collect his third save of the season. He had two strikeouts and no walks. Smith worked five innings and allowed only four runs.

Govek went 2-3 scoring twice and driving in two runs. He hit his first home run of the season. Hoffman had a homer on the day and the Tribe got two hits from Bonilla, Stuckey, McDonald and Lawson, as well.

Southeast will face off with the Owls from Florida Atlantic tomorrow at 3 p.m. and Auburn and Bama will play in the early game at 11 a.m.