SPLIT NETS HOGAN 500TH CAREER WIN

Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan acknowledged the fans Saturday at Capaha Field after he was presented a plaque commemorating his 500th coaching victory by Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman, right.

Mark Hogan picked up a milestone victory Saturday afternoon, but the day could have gone a little bit better for Southeast Missouri State University's baseball coach.

The Indians' 7-2 triumph over Eastern Illinois in the first game of a doubleheader at Capaha Field was Hogan's 500th career coaching victory.

But the Indians could manage just a split against one of their major Ohio Valley Conference rivals as EIU rebounded with a 7-0 triumph in the nightcap.

Southeast (10-12 overall, 3-2 OVC) and EIU (7-14, 3-2) will close out the three-game series at 2 p.m. today at Capaha.

"It was two good teams going at it today," said Hogan. "It's just so hard to sweep a good ballclub."

Hogan now has a 500-369-3 record in 18 seasons, including a 123-113-1 mark at Southeast, his alma mater. Hogan went 223-145 at Wallace Junior College in Alabama and 154-111-2 at Livingston University in Alabama before returning to Cape Girardeau in 1995.

"To win 500 games is very special. What a blessing my career has been," said Hogan, who received a plaque from Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman in a brief ceremony between games. "This is dedicated to all the guys who have played for me."

Ryan Spille was largely responsible for providing Hogan his 500th win. The Indians' senior left-hander was his usual brilliant self in the opener, pitching a three-hitter, with six strikeouts and one walk. Both runs EIU scored were unearned as Spille improved to 6-0.

"Game one was basically dominated by Spille and we had some timely hitting at the end," Hogan said.

Southeast was clinging to a tenuous 3-2 lead when the Indians knocked out EIU starter Matt Gage (0-4) with a home-run barrage in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Phil Warren led off with a homer to left field, making it 4-2. Darin Kinsolving followed with a blast to left, making it 5-2. After a double by Kyle Yount, Gage was replaced by Andy Hoffman, who allowed a two-run homer to center by Jeff Bourbon.

Freshman Clemente Bonilla Jr. had three of the Indians' 11 first-game hits. Warren, Kinsolving and Bourbon all added two hits, with Bourbon driving in three runs and Warren delivering two RBIs.

"We were right in the first game, but some little things hurt," said EIU coach Jim Schmitz. "Ryan did a great job."

But it was the Panthers' turn to get a pitching gem in the nightcap as right-hander John Larson (2-2) blanked the Indians on four hits. He fanned six and walked three.

"Game two was dominated by Larson," said Hogan. "We had not been shut out in the last two years and you have to tip your cap to Larson. He really threw well."

Said Schmitz, "We asked John to counter (Spille's performance) and he did a great job."

The Panthers exploded for 16 hits against three Southeast hurlers.

Starter Lanson Debrock (2-3) suffered some early bad luck as a few plays that could have been made weren't, although they didn't go for errors. Debrock allowed seven hits and four runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Chad Bogenpohl gave up five hits and two runs in 1 2/3 innings.

Southeast's top pitcher in the second game was Allan Landgren, who allowed four hits and just one run in 3 2/3 innings.

"Landgren was the bright spot in the second game for us," Hogan said.

Sean Lyons paced the Panthers with three hits in the nightcap. David Mikes, Matt Marzec, Mark Tomse, Brian Hantosh and Josh Landon all had two hits. Ryan Bridgewater belted the game's lone homer.

Steve Lowe had two of Southeast's four second-game hits.

Both coaches are eagerly anticipating today's rubber contest between last year's top two teams in the OVC. EIU won the regular-season title ahead of Southeast but the Indians beat the Panthers in the tournament finals.

"These are two of the top teams in our league and it all comes down to (today)," Schmitz said.

Said Hogan, "It's a big game for both sides. Winning two out of three would be huge."