INDIANS SUFFER TECH-NICAL KO; GEORGIA TECH OUSTS SE FROM NCAA MIDWEST REGIONAL 14-5

WICHITA, Kan. -- It's safe to say that Georgia Tech had Southeast Missouri State University's number in baseball this season.

The Yellow Jackets made it four in a row over the Indians by romping 14-5 Friday during an elimination game of the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Second-seeded Georgia Tech, now 1-1 in the six-team regional, advances to play another game today.

For the sixth-seeded Indians, their historic season ends at 32-24. Southeast, making its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament, had lost to top-seeded Wichita State 7-4 during Thursday's opening round.

"It's disappointing to come out here and lose twice because we came here to win some games and I felt like we could," said Southeast coach Mark Hogan. "But I'm still extremely proud of the guys for the type of season we had."

Earlier this season, the Yellow Jackets outscored the Indians 33-11 in sweeping a three-game series in Atlanta.

And Friday it was more of the same as Georgia Tech used a five-run third inning to take control, then broke the contest wide open with a four-run seventh.

"Today is obviously a lot better mood from our end," said Georgia Tech coach Danny Hall, whose squad had been hammered by Oklahoma State Thursday. "I think having seen Southeast Missouri earlier in the season was a definite advantage for us."

Jason Swearingen, Southeast's lone senior, was roughed up for seven hits and seven runs in 2 1/3 innings as he ended the season with a 7-6 record.

Swearingen, a righthander, finished his impressive Southeast career with 28 wins, tying him for the school record in that category.

"Jason had a great career for us, but Georgia Tech has some outstanding hitters," said Hogan.

Lanson DeBrock hurled three solid innings before being tagged in the seventh. He wound up allowing seven hits and four runs in four innings.

Jerry Wolsey gave up four hits and one run in 1 1/3 innings.

Marc Scheffer, Southeast's fourth and final pitcher of the day, allowed one hit and two runs in 1 1/3 innings.

"We were able to hit the ball hard most of the day," Hall said.

Georgia Tech's L.J. Yankosky improved to 11-1 as he allowed all five runs and all of Southeast's eight hits in eight-plus innings. Yankosky, who struck out 12, was taken out after allowing two hits to open the ninth.

"Yankosky did it to us twice this year," Hogan said. "He threw as well against us as anybody has all year."

One of the major highlights for the Indians was Charlie Marino's 21st home run of the season, a solo blast to center in the first inning. The junior left fielder now owns the Southeast record for homers in a season.

Sophomore third baseman Darin Kinsolving also homered for the Indians, his 14th of the season and second of the regional. The blast was a solo shot to right in the third inning.

Sophomore center fielder Jeremy Johnson added Southeast's third homer of the game, a solo shot to center in the seventh. It was Johnson's 13th of the campaign.

Kinsolving, who also doubled, was Southeast's only player with more than one hit.

The Yellow Jackets had 19 hits and five home runs, including two from Stephen Donaghey. Jay Hood and Bryan Prince both had four hits while Matthew Boggs, Heath Honeycutt and Ryan Brooks all added three.

Georgia Tech never trailed, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first before Marino's homer in the bottom of the frame tied it.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead for good with a run in the second, then exploded for five in the third to chase Swearingen. The big blows in that frame were Brooks' three-run homer and Donaghey's two-run shot.

Kinsolving's homer in the bottom of the third made it 7-2, but Georgia Tech broke things open with a four-run seventh that knocked out DeBrock. Hood had a three-run homer for the key blow.

Johnson's home run in the bottom of the seventh made it 11-3, but the Yellow Jackets came back with a run in the eighth and two in the ninth to go up 14-3.

Southeast rounded out the scoring with two in its ninth. Kyle Yount doubled, Marty Lane tripled and Lane came home on Phil Warren's sacrifice fly.

Even though the Indians were disappointed with how the season ended, Hogan said they should be extremely proud of the campaign they had.

"I'd say we exceeded expectations," he said. "With only one senior, we were hoping this would be a good year and our guys would get some experience.

"As the year went on, this group really matured. Not only did they have a great year, but they're a class group. And with only one senior, and some good recruits coming in, we have a lot to look forward to."

Kinsolving echoed his coach's thoughts.

"We have a lot of guys returning and we have to use this as a building experience and go from there," he said. "We hope to get back (to a regional) next year."