SEMO BASEBALL TEAM FALLS JUST SHORT

After Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team swept a doubleheader against Bradley Saturday in the Braves' first two games of the season, Southeast coach Mark Hogan said that Bradley would get better quickly.

Hogan's prophecy was fulfilled.

Bradley jumped on the Indians early in the teams' nine-inning game Sunday afternoon at Capaha Park and held off a late charge to win 12-10. In a pair of seven-inning games Saturday against Bradley, Southeast won the opener 10-0 and the nightcap 3-2.

Bradley (1-2) pounded Southeast starter David Michel, a former Cape Central standout, and built a 9-0 lead in the second inning. Michel (0-2) gave up seven hits and nine runs in 1 2/3 innings and took the loss. Bradley's Kevin Priebe (1-0) gave up five runs in five innings and earned the win.

Fielding woes compounded Michel's early trouble. Southeast (2-3) committed four errors in the first two innings and had six in the game. All nine runs attributed to Michel were unearned.

"They're Division I hitters, but at the same time we didn't help [Michel]," said Hogan. "He's been a hard-luck pitcher. Granted, they hit the ball hard against him, but we had opportunities in both innings to get out without them getting any runs. .

"If we do that then we end up winning 10-2 or 10-3. We're not going to beat anybody making six errors."

Southeast scored a run in the second and, after Bradley scored two more in the fourth, added another in the bottom of the fourth, making the score 11-2.

The Indians turned things around in the fifth inning and outscored Bradley, a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, 8-1 in the last five innings.

"In the last three innings we were a swing away from either tying or going ahead in the ballgame," Hogan said. "Our guys stayed focused and we didn't panic. That's a positive sign to see this early in the year. It turned out to be a fantastic game."

Southeast scored three runs in the fifth as LaMonte Collier and Jeremy Johnson both had big RBI doubles. The Indians then added three more in the sixth; Braves reliever Rob Purvis walked four batters in the inning and Southeast's Brad Hoehner had an RBI single.

Up 11-8, Bradley added a run in the eighth on Chad Saalfrink's double.

Southeast answered in the bottom of the inning with two runs, making the score 12-10. A one-out double into the right field corner by Steve Goodman scored Kyle Yount and Johnson. Bradley's Matt Beck, who earned the save, struck out the next batter, intentionally walked the next batter, Collier, then struck out Hoehner to get out of trouble.

Needing two runs to tie, Southeast went down in order in the ninth.

Although Southeast's comeback was positive, the Indians nonetheless must have been disappointed that they stranded 10 runners in the fifth through eighth innings. Southeast didn't score in the seventh inning and left the bases loaded, and then left the bases loaded again in the eighth.

The early deficit in the game allowed Hogan to use the most players he has in a game this season. Southeast used five pitchers, Michel, Justin Buck, Dan Huesgen, Ryan Branstetter and Troy Pehle. And 14 different Indians batted.

"It was an exciting day because I got a chance to play a lot of young players," Hogan said. "I got a better feel for our ballclub."

For Southeast, Collier went 3-for-4 with and RBI and two runs scored and Goodman went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Southeast will play Mississippi State, one of the premier teams in the country, Tuesday at 3 p.m. in Starkville, Miss. The teams will play a second game Wednesday at 3 p.m.

"That's going to be an exciting trip for us because we're going on the road to play one of the big-time programs in the nation," said Hogan.