Timely Hitting, Pitching Leads Redhawks to First Victory

Feb. 18, 2006

LAKE CHARLES, La. - (Friday, February 17, 2006) Redhawks Head Coach did not have to second-guess himself this time around as his baseball team dominated McNeese State in all facets of the game for a 8-1 win at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana Friday evening. The win gave the Redhawks their first victory of the 2006 season.

The Redhawks (1-1) were down early as the Cowboys (2-4) grabbed a quick 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the first Bryan Cartie led-off with a single off Redhawks starter Derek Herbig. Cartie advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and later to third on a wild pitch by Herbig. Herbig struckout Charles Kingrey before Tyler Dugas singled to center to drive in Cartie.

Herbig would settle down after the opening inning and combined with relievers Josh Parham and Michael Taylor to shutdown the Cowboy bats.

The Redhawks offense gave the pitching staff all the run support they needed and more. In the Redhawks half of the fifth inning Philip Riley led off with a single to center. Daniel Schuh then sigled through the left side. Quenten Rouse then picked up his Redhawks hit of his career as he singled to load the bases with one out for Jordan Payne. Payne doubled to center driving in Riley and Schuh. Omar Padilla then singled to left center to plate Rouse and Payne to give the Redhawks a 4-1 lead.

The Redhawks would score runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth to complete the scoring.

In the sixth Riley scored a run on a throwing error by the Cowboys second baseman.

The Redhawks scored another unearned run in the seventh when Payne scored on an error by the first baseman.

In the eighth the Redhawks scored two runs. Riley reached base for the third time of the day on a walk. Schuh followed with a double down the rightfield line moving Riley to third. Aaron Rave singled in both runners with a laser to rightfield.

The Redhawks recorded 10 hits on the day while limiting the Cowboys to only four hits with only one being for extra bases.

For the second-straight game the Redhawks had a solid game by their starter as Herbig picked up the win going 5.0 innings and allowing only one run on three hits while striking out four.

Parham was near perfect in relief as he took over for Herbig and pitched 3.2 innings allowing only one batter to reach base. Taylor came in and recorded the final out for the win.

Schuh went 3-4 with two runs scored. Payne went 2-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored from the leadoff spot.

Rave and Padilla each finished 1-3 with two RBIs apiece.