Feb. 25, 2006

Box Score

By Nathan Saverino

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Saturday, February 25, 2006) For the third consecutive year, Southeast picked up a win in the season's home opener with a 7-5 win over Jackson State in 7 innings. The Redhawks put the icing on the cake with a win in game two of the Saturday afternoon doubleheader, pulling off an 8-7 come-from-behind victory.

Jackson State (4-5) came to Capaha Field ranked No. 1 among all Historically Black Colleges and Universities in a weekly national poll by BlackCollegeBaseball.com; the Tigers left scratching their heads in disappointment as Southeast (3-3) handed them their fifth consecutive loss.

The Redhawks jump-started the home season in good fashion, getting off to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Asif Shah walked to start off the game, and moved to second as Omar Padilla reached base on a bunt single. After a Dustin Pritchett strikeout, Andrew Graham had an RBI single to left field. Rave walked to load the bases, and Phillip Rile followed with a two-RBI double to left. Rave went on to score the fourth run of the inning on a Daniel Schuh sacrifice fly to right.

The Redhawks went on to post a run in the fourth inning, and had a bit of a scare in the top of fifth. Southeast starter Anthony Maupin (1-0) allowed a single to Demareo Webb, and then hit Marquez Tadeo with a pitch low and in. After Joaquin Rodriguez singled to bring Webb around to score, Josh Parham came on to pitch. The Tigers scored two more in the inning to draw within one.

Southeast scored two more insurance runs in their half of the inning. After Michael Taylor allowed a run in the seventh, Coach Mark Hogan brought in closer Phillip Riley to finish up the game. Riley picked up his first save of the season as he closed out the game with a strikeout of Jackson State star shortstop Rodriguez. The strikeout was Rodriguez's first of the season.

Jackson State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in game two. Webb and Shundell Russaw reached base on back-to-back singles to start off the third inning. Rodriguez, who came into the day hitting .654, doubled to drive in both runners. After Redhawk starter Derek Herbig (1-0) delivered a wild pitch to allow Rodriguez to advance to third, another one got away from the senior lefty to bring Rodriguez across the plate for the third run of the inning.

After replacing Herbig in the third inning, Asif Shah allowed two more runs to the Tigers in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the inning, Aaron Rave doubled to lead off the inning and give the Redhawks their first base hit of the game. Phillip Riley singled to right to move Rave over to third, and was able to advance to second on the throw. Daryl Graham and Brent Lawson each followed with RBI singles. Chad Mercado laid down a sacrifice to move Graham and Lawson into scoring position. Graham then scored the Redhawks third run of the inning before Lawson was tagged out in a run down following a diving stop of a Jordan Payne ground ball by Tigers shortstop Rodriguez.

Southeast added four more runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead. After loading the bases with one out. Graham walked to bring in his younger brother Andrew to score. Lawson popped out to short for the second, but Mercado came through with a two-run double. With Daryl Graham still on third, Jackson State hurler Marlon Sommerville threw a ball that bounced to the backstop, allowing Graham to score.

After the first two batters in the top of the sixth reached base on walks, the Tigers were able to bring both players around to score to knot the game at 7 runs apiece. In the bottom half of the sixth, Shah singled with one out. Andrew Graham was issued a free pass, and then Rave drove in the game-winning run with a single through the right side.

Riley closed out the game in the seventh and picked up his second save of the day, coming on with two outs in the inning after Andrew Graham got into some trouble.

Aaron Rave extended his hitting streak to six games, picking up hits in both games and going 4-6 on the day, with a double, 3 runs, and an RBI.

Asif Shah and Phillip Riley each drove in two runs in game one of the double header, going 1-2 and 1-4 respectively. Riley also went 2-4 and scored twice in game two.

Anthony Maupin picked up his first win of the season after a no decision at Arkasas State last week. Maupin pitched 4.0 innings, allowed four runs, struck out four, and issued just one walk.

Derek Herbig, game two starter, struggled with his control in his 2 innings of work. He allowed thee runs on 6 hits, walked two batters, and threw two wild pitches.

Andrew Graham pitched effectively in a relief appearance in game two, going 1.2 innings allowing just one hit and striking out two. He picked up his first victory of his young career.

For Jackson State, Joaquin Rodriguez continued hitting with a hot bat. The senior shortstop went 6-9 on the day, with two doubles, two runs scored, and 6 RBIs.

The Redhawks wrap up the three game series with Jackson State tomorrow in a 1:00 p.m. affair at Capaha Field.