March 26, 2006

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Saturday, March 25, 2006) - The Redhawks opened up conference play today in a battle for the sky at Tennessee-Martin against the Skyhawks. Neither team took off offensively, though, as the pitchers dueled in both games of a doubleheader. Southeast could not pull out a victory in either game, dropping game one 3-2 in extra innings and game two 2-1 in a 7-inning affair.

Southeast (6-13, 0-2 OVC) jumped on the board first in game one. Dustin Pritchett led off the second inning with a double to left center and later scored on Levi Olsen's sacrifice fly to center field. They didn't hold the lead for long, as the Skyhawks (7-13, 2-0 OVC) scored one of their own in the bottom half of the frame.

Southeast starter Jamie McAlister plunked Chris Rezabek with one out, and then scored after two consecutive singles and a sacrifice fly.

The Redhawks added a run in the fifth after Daniel Schuh led off with a double down the left field line. After advancing to third on Jordan Payne's bunt single, Schuh scored on a sacrifice fly delivered by Asif Shah.

They held the lead until the seventh inning when Tennessee-Martin tied it up with a run. Josh Parham came on in relief with one out and the bases loaded in the seventh, but pitched out of the jam brilliantly with a strikeout and fly ball to left. With the game in the hands of both bullpens, the shut each other down knotted at two, sending the game into extra innings.

The Redhawks threw the game away in the bottom of the tenth. Skyhawk runner Zach Dean stole third base, and then scored the winning run as Olsen's errant throw went into left field.

Runs for either team in game two of the doubleheader were even harder to come by. Redhawks starter Anthony Maupin (1-3) was nearly flawless, recording a complete game in the seven-inning contest.

After the first two Martin batters reached base by way of a bunt single and error, Maupin retired the next eleven consecutive Skyhawk batters. Except for the first two batters of the game, Maupin only allowed runners to reach base in the fifth. The Skyhawks capitalized on the opportunity though, scoring the minimum two runs needed to get the win.

While the Skyhawks took advantage of their opportunity to score, Southeast let several opportunities get away from them. Runners were left on base in scoring position I the first, fourth, and sixth innings. In the fourth, the bases were left loaded.

Southeast's lone run came in the top of the fourth before loading the bases. Pritchett reached base on a one out walk. He moved to third on Aaron Rave's single, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Phillip Riley.

Maupin, despite picking up his third loss of the season, had one of his best outings. He worked a complete game in six innings, allowed just five hits, and no walks. The senior also struck out four batters.

Game one starter McAlister received a no decision for his 6.1 innings of work, as he left the game with the game tied. McAlister allowed two runs on six hits, walked two, and struck out two.

Reliever Parham got tagged with his first loss of the season in game one. He allowed just one unearned run on two hits in three innings pitched, while striking out a batter and issuing one free pass.

Dustin Pritchett did his job today as the clean-up man in both games. Pritchett, who started both games in left field, was 4-6 on the day with a double and two runs scored. He also drew a walk.

Zach Gresback was the leading hitter for the Skyhawks on Saturday afternoon. He was 3-5 with two RBIs.

Southeast will try to pick up their first OVC victory tomorrow afternoon as they face off with the Skyhawks again. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and the game can be heard live on 1220 KGIR or via the internet at www.kgir.com.