SEMO POUNDS OUT 11-5 VICTORY AT SIU

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Robert Kern had a huge day as Southeast Missouri State University's baseball team got some revenge here Wednesday afternoon.

Kern, a former Cape Girardeau Central High standout, homered and drove in five runs as the Indians defeated Southern Illinois 11-5.

The Indians, who last Wednesday had lost to SIU 9-7 in Cape Girardeau, improved to 5-6 with their third straight victory. The Salukis fell to 3-8.

Kern had a two-run double in the first inning, a two-run homer -- his third of the season -- in the seventh and an RBI single in the ninth. He finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate.

Charlie Marino and Kyle Yount both added two hits for the Indians while Marino also stole three bases. Southeast finished with 11 hits.

Four Southeast pitchers combined to allow 11 hits and strike out nine.

Starter Chad Bogenpohl out of Oak Ridge worked the first four innings and earned credit for his first Southeast victory. The righthander allowed five hits and two runs while fanning four and walking one.

Dan Huesgen gave up four hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings; Jason Swearingen allowed two hits and one run while fanning two in 2 2/3 innings; and Ryan Spille pitched a perfect ninth as he fanned two.

Kern's double in the first helped the Indians get off to 3-0 lead and they never trailed. Southeast made it 5-0 in the second.

Holding on to a 6-4 lead, the Indians put the game away with three in the seventh -- including Kern's long two-run homer to right -- and two more in the ninth.

"It was a good win for us," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "We continued to hit the ball and I thought Bogenpohl did a nice job."

The Indians will return to action this weekend with a big three-game home series against Murray State that marks the opening of Ohio Valley Conference play.

Southeast and Murray will square off in a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader and a 1 p.m. Sunday single game.