March 13, 2005

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Sunday, March 13, 2005) With temperatures dipping into the low 30's and a chilling wind blowing across Capaha Field, it was the hot bats and pitching arms of the Redhawks that kept the Redhawks scorching as they won their third-straight game with a 8-1 victory over Freed-Hardeman University Sunday afternoon. The Redhawks offense amassed eight runs on 11 hits and the pitching and defense held the Lions to one run on six hits.

The Redhawks (6-7) scored first in their half of the first inning when third baseman Eric Horstman led off the inning with a single to left. He later advanced to third on a throwing error by the Lions (14-4). Outfielder Frank Montiel then drove him in with an RBI single to center for his team-leading 14th RBI of the season and a quick 1-0 Redhawks lead.

Montiel was then thrown out attempting to steal second. During the play Montiel suffered an injury to his finger and was taken out for precautionary reasons. With the Redhawks best offensive weapon out senior Bryan Kurt took his place.

Kurt made his presence felt in the fourth inning. He led off the inning with a single to center and showed his speed on the bases when he scored of a Brent Lawson double to left to make it 2-0.

In the sixth Kurt reached on an error and then advanced to second on a Lawson walk. Again flashing his speed he scored on an Ernie Bracamonte RBI single to left. Pinch-hitter Freddy Lopez drove in Lawson with a single up the middle. A Brady Noll sacrifice bunt became an infield single when the Lions were caught with no one covering first base giving the Redhawks a bases loaded opportunity with no outs.

Bo Jenkins drove in Bracamonte on an RBI groundout to second. Horstman hit a ball foul down the rightfield line that was deep enough for Lopez to score from third and advance Noll to third. Jordan Payne hit an RBI single to left to score Noll to cap the five-run sixth inning.

The Redhawks added another run in the seventh when the speedy Kurt took advantage of the Lions outfield shift and drove a ball down the third base line into the left field corner and rode his horse all the way to third for a leadoff triple. Lawson got his second RBI of the day with an RBI groundout to short to drive in Kurt to give the Redhawks an 8-0 lead.

Meanwhile the Redhawks pitchers stifled the potent bats of the Lions. Starter Ryan Forsyth pitched three scoreless innings allowing one hit and striking out two.

The Johnson and Johnson duo of Andrew Johnson and Casey Johnson combined for 2.2 scoreless innings in the middle innings. Andrew Johnson struck out five lions in two innings.

Jamie McAlister came in for 1.1 innings of scoreless pitching while striking out two.

Lawson came in for his second appearance of the season in the eighth allowing the Lions only run.

Senior All-American Brad Smith made his team-leading eighth appearance of the season in the ninth and struck out the side to end the game, 8-1.

Kurt finished 2-4 with three runs scored. Horstman and Payne each collected two hits and drove in one.

Head Coach Mark Hogan employed all available position players for the Redhawks as 21 total players saw action in the victory.

The Redhawks will next travel to Mississippi to face 16th-ranked Ole Miss for a two games with game one on Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. and game two the following night at 6:30 p.m.