Indians snare Bears for 2nd straight day

It's been a long climb, but Southeast Missouri State University has finally reached the .500 mark.

The Indians began the season by losing three games at Oklahoma and they've been in a hole ever since.

But Saturday afternoon's 8-2 victory over Southwest Missouri State in front of more than 500 fans at Capaha Field evened the Indians' record at 8-8. Southeast has won four straight games and is perfect in seven home contests.

"We're playing good ball," senior first baseman Gary Gilbert said. "I think we've made the decision to be a good ballclub."

Just last weekend, the Indians were outscored 32-1 while being routed in a three-game series at Alabama. They limped back to Cape Girardeau with a 4-8 record after having dropped all eight games against high-profile programs, including two at Mississippi.

Southeast, however, has bounced back in a big way -- much to the delight of coach Mark Hogan.

"I'm just really proud of the club," said Hogan, whose team beat SMS 5-2 Friday afternoon in the opener of the three-game series that concludes today at 1 p.m. "We've been bruised a little with some of the great teams we've played, but it just shows the character of these kids to bounce back, especially after the Alabama series.

"We've got a chance to get over .500 after 17 games, and with the brutal schedule we've played, that would be quite an accomplishment."

The Indians had several heroes Saturday in knocking off the Bears (6-10), led by pitcher Anthony Maupin, a junior-college transfer.

Maupin on a rollMaupin, a 6-foot-7 right-hander, turned in his second straight strong start -- he allowed just two runs in eight innings at Alabama -- by working all nine innings. He gave up seven hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking one.

"I really wanted to go all nine," said Maupin (2-2). "My curve was working and I was hitting my spots well."

Not even a 35-minute rain delay following the top of the fourth inning -- in which the Bears scored both their runs -- hurt Maupin.

"It's the first time I've ever had to do that," Maupin said. "I got a little sore, but I guess it didn't affect me too much."

Said Hogan, "The job Anthony Maupin did was superb. Even the rain delay didn't bother him. That's back-to-back games where he's pitched really well."

Southeast's offense continued to roll as the Indians banged out 15 hits, giving them 26 hits in the series and 46 hits in the last four games. Southeast was batting just .253 as a team following the offensive funk in Alabama but is now up to .278.

"Our offense is starting to come around," Hogan said.

Gilbert had the game's biggest blow, a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning that was part of a five-run outburst and put the Indians up 7-0. The left-handed hitting Gilbert ripped a pitch from SMS reliever Paul Marsala -- who had just entered the game -- well beyond the right-field fence.

"He got ahead of me with a fastball, but then he got one inside and I was able to turn on it," said Gilbert, who hit his first homer of the season on Friday.

Junior center fielder Frankie Montiel and junior shortstop Ernie Bracamonte both had three hits while junior outfielder Bryan Kurt added two hits. All are juco transfers.

Montiel and Kurt continued their recent torrid hitting. Kurt leads the Indians with a .432 average while Montiel is at .429.

"Those guys are really hitting the ball well," Hogan said.

The Indians grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning, Kurt scoring on an error after a double and freshman outfielder Brent Lawson driving in his first Southeast run with a double.

Southeast exploded in the third. Bracamonte walked, Montiel and junior Freddy Lopez both singled to load the bases, then Kurt singled in a run to keep the bases loaded and knock out SMS starter Brett Sinkbeil (1-2). Gilbert promptly greeted Marsala with his blast.

Marsala was strong the rest of the way, however. In five innings, he struck out 11 while allowing two runs.

Kirk McConnell led the Bears' offense with three hits.

"It feels good to beat these guys and hopefully we can get the sweep," Gilbert said. "But we know they're going to come out strong, and we've got to keep playing well."