May 6, 2001

Cape Girardeau, Mo. --- Five seniors said goodbye today, but not so long as the Indians completed a weekend sweep of Ohio Valley Conference foe Tennessee Tech with a 9-0 win. Southeast, which stretched its winning streak to eight games, swept Austin Peay last week. This was the second-straight OVC sweep for Southeast (33-14; 14-4 OVC).

Senior starters 1B Shane Allen, C Jeff Bourbon, starting pitcher Tommy Thomas, reliever LHP Jeffrey Hilz and UTL Kenny Gaebler all played their final game at Capaha Field.

The Indians notched their first hits of the game in the second with back-to-back singles from CF Vern Hatton and Allen. 3B Denver Stuckey, who has been moved to the nine-hole because of hamstring injury, delivered a three-run homer to clear the bases and give Southeast an early 3-0 lead.

In the Indian's portion of the third, 2B Clemente Bonilla, SS Zach Borowiak and Bourbon started off the inning with singles to load the bases for a waiting Hatton. Tech starter Mike Fessler sent a first-pitch fastball right down the pipe and Hatton connected for an opposite-field grand slam.

Thomas started the fourth with a comfortable 7-0 lead and settled into the game to strike out the side. He came back in the fifth to sit the next two batters down on strikes before he surrendered his fourth hit of the day and then ended the inning on a fly to right.

Hatton scored his second run of the day after RF Tristen McDonald doubled to right-center and give Southeast an 8-0 lead.

In his final at-bat at Capaha Field, Bourbon made it a memorable one as he homered to deep left-center to lift Southeast to 9-0.

The Indians added their final two runs of the game in the eighth after Hopkins doubled to right to score Allen. DH Brad Beatty reached first next off an errant throw by the fielding short stop and notched his 28th RBI of the season.

Thomas (4-7) was brilliant in his seven innings of work. He finished with just five hits allowed and struck out his season-best nine batters.

Relievers RHP Mark Frazier and RHP Andy Davidson protected the team's shutout with their work in the final two innings. Frazier allowed just single and struck out one, while Davidson shutdown the Golden Eagles with three Ks to end the game.

Hopkins, Bourbon, Hatton and McDonald all had two hits apiece to lead Southeast. Hatton was a perfect 2-for-2 with four RBI, while Stuckey was right behind him with three RBI.

Southeast pitching allowed just four runs over the three-game series this weekend and lowered their ERA to a league-best 3.49.

Although Eastern Illinois completed a sweep of Morehead to mathematically eliminate Southeast and every other team in the OVC from the regular season crown, the undefeated Panthers have yet to meet the Indians. Southeast hopes to introduce them to the loss column next weekend. Southeast will first warm-up with a double-dip at Memphis this Tuesday starting at 2 p.m.