SE DOWNS ARKANSAS ST. FOR NINTH STRAIGHT WIN

JONESBORO, Ark. -- Jeremy Johnson closed in on another school record and Phil Warren made a successful return to highlight Southeast Missouri State University's ninth consecutive baseball victory, a 7-4 decision over host Arkansas State Wednesday afternoon.

The Indians improved to 29-10 with the non-conference triumph while ASU fell to 19-24.

Johnson, even though he went hitless, drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, giving him 167 RBIs for his brilliant four-year career at Southeast and tying him with Steve Williams for the career mark.

Johnson, already Southeast's career leader in hits, doubles, runs scored and at-bats, will likely break the RBI record during this weekend's three-game Ohio Valley Conference home series against Murray State.

Warren, who was batting .329 before suffering a broken wrist a month ago and missing the next 18 games, delivered a key two-run double Wednesday.

"It's great to have Phil back in the lineup," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "He's back a couple of weeks ahead of schedule, which is great."

Southeast had nine hits, led by Kevin Meyer and Darin Kinsolving with two each. Jeff Bourbon belted his seventh home run of the season while Zach Borowiak got his fourth.

ASU had 10 hits, paced by Reed Bredensteiner with three. Kyle Brunen and Ryan Reynolds both added two.

Brandon Smith, Southeast's starter, was the winning pitcher as he improved to 4-1. Smith allowed six hits and three runs -- just one of them earned -- in four innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Andy Davidson, Lanson Debrock, Todd Pennington and Jeffrey Hilz all followed Smith to the mound, with just Pennington allowing a run.

Debrock fanned four in 1 2/3 innings while Hilz earned his fourth save by hurling the final 1 2/3 innings.All told, Southeast's hurlers struck out 15 ASU batters.

Southeast, which never trailed, went ahead 3-0 early. Borowiak drilled a two-out homer in the second inning for a 1-0 lead and the Indians scored twice in the third, on Meyer's RBI triple and Johnson's sacrifice fly.

ASU got one in the third and two in the fourth to pull into a 3-3 tie, but Southeast took the lead for good with a three-run fifth highlighted by Warren's two-run double and Charlie Marino's RBI single.

Southeast got its final run in the eighth on Bourbon's homer.