Feb. 9, 2001

Southeast Missouri Indians (0-0)

vs. Iowa State Cyclones (0-3)

February 9-11, 2001 * Capaha Field (2,000)

About the Indians: This weekend the Southeast Missouri State Indians will kick off its 2001 baseball campaign in a three-game homestand against Iowa State. This year's lineup will feature names and faces from the past, including All-American's Zack Borowiak and Jeff Bourbon, All-OVC pitchers Tommy Thomas and Jeffrey Hilz, and infielders Clemente Bonilla and Shane Allen. Coach Mark Hogan and staff have assembled one the program's most exciting class of newcomers, which include Junior College World Series finalists Brad Purcell, Tristen McDonald and Brad Hopkins.

Pitching will be the mainstay on this year's club. Returning OVC Rookie of the Year Hilz and nationally-ranked strikeout king Thomas, the Indians are expected to light things up from the mound. Hilz hopes to make the transition from reliever to starter this season.

This series is the only homestand for the Indians in the month of February. Southeast will leave for Memphis the 14th and then have three dates with Mississippi, Jackson State, South Alabama and Arkansas State to close out the month.

Projected Lineup

1. Clemente Bonilla 2B

2. Denver Stuckey 3B

3. Zach Borowiak SS

4. Tristen McDonald RF

5. Brian Hopkins LF

6. Vern Hatton CF

7. Shane Allen 1B

8. Jeff Bourbon C

9. Brad Beatty DH

Starting Pitcher Tommy Thomas (First Start)

The Series: Southeast leads the all-times series 5-1. Last year against the Cyclones, the Indians took all three games, 11-4, 4-0 and 4-3.

The Last Time We Met: Southeast swept the club out of the Big 12 last season to post an overall record of 5-2 through February 20. In game one, Tommy Thomas and Todd Pennington combined to stop ISU 11-4. The duo gave up just three earned runs and eight hits. Pennington pitched 5.2 innings and recorded just one of those earned runs, while striking out four. Then a frosh, Zach Borowiak went 3-for-5 with one run scored. In game two Dan Huesgen picked up his first win of the season after throwing a one-hitter over seven innings. Jeremy Johnson notched the most important hit of his life when he became the all-time leader in the fourth inning. He finished the game 3-for-4 with one run scored. Charlie Marino had a big game after going 2-of-3 from the plate with two RBI and one run scored. In the final game, Marino was perfect from the plate with three hits , including a double, and one run scored. Hilz came to the mound in the bottom of the sixth to pick up the win. He struck out two and gave up one hit against five batters to notch his first win of the season and give Southeast the 4-3 win.

Take a Bow: Last year against Iowa State, Jeremy Johnson became the all-time hits champions with a single in game one of the doubleheader against the Cyclones. The fourth inning hit against Cyclone righty, Charley Bigwood, broke Kyle Yount's career total of 215. Johnson ended his career with 287 hits. Yount's mark of 215 was set just a year prior in 1999.

Platform: After picking up his first win against Iowa State last season, Jeffrey Hilz went on to win his next two games at Memphis (2.22.00) and at home against Southwest Missouri State (2.27.00).

Movin' On Up: Catcher Jeff Bourbon needs just 56 more games to move into the Southeast all-time games played leader board.

Fielding of Dreams: Senior Kenny Gaebler brings a perfect fielding average into this season's campaign. In 71 career games, Gaebler has yet to commit an error.

Bonilla On-Base: Junior Clemente Bonilla grounded into just one double play all of last season. He has a career batting average of .317.

Doing the Dishes: Short stop and All-American Zach Borowiak recorded 146 assists last season. The number already ranks him fifth on Southeast's all-time assist list.

Don't We Know You?: Junior Brian Hopkins originally signed with Iowa State out of high school. He instead chose to go to Iowa Central C.C.

Birthday Boy: Third basemen Denver Stuckey will celebrate his 21st birthday this Saturday, February 10th.

Immediate Connection: ISU's Ben McKay and Southeast's Vern Hatton are both products of Kishwaukee Community College in northern Illinois. The Cyclone's Beau Hampton and Otahkian basketball player Jenny Anderson are both from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Next Up: Southeast will hit the road for the first of eight dates at Memphis on Valentine's Day, Wednesday, February 14 at 2 p.m.