March 26, 2005

Box Score

MURRAY, Kent. - (Saturday, March 26, 2005) 18 hours after having the second game of a scheduled doubleheader suspended after three innings due to darkness on Friday, the Redhawks bats did not slumber as they stayed awake and continued their hitting, extending their 6-3 lead from Friday to a 15-10 win on Saturday over host Murray State. The bats remained active in game two, however the pitching faltered and the Redhawks dropped the second contest, 7-6.

The Redhawks (8-13, 1-2 OVC) began Saturday with the fourth inning of the suspended game. Eric Horstman singled to lead-off the inning and stole his second base of the game and mover to third when the Racer's throw by the catcher went into centerfield. Ernie Bracamonte doubled down the rightfield line to drive in Horstman to extend the Redhawks lead to 7-3.

The Racers (13-11, 2-1 OVC) cut the lead to one run with three runs in their half of the fourth.

In the fifth Keith Wollis singled to lead-of the inning. Pinch-hitter Chris Gibson singled to right center advancing Wollis to third, but Gibson was thrown out at second trying to stretch his single to a double. Bo Jenkins singled to center driving in Wollis.

The Racers again answered in their half of the fifth with another run to keep pace with the Redhawks, 8-7.

The Redhawks scored two runs in the sixth with two outs when Brent Lawson doubled down the leftfield line. Wollis walked and Gibson again singled driving in Lawson. Jenkins followed suit with a single of his own to score Wollis.

With a three-run lead, 10-7 the Redhawks seemed to have the game in hand, but the Racer had other ideas as they tied the game at 10 apiece with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Both teams seemed to have found a remedy for the offensive explosions as both teams remained scoreless for two innings.

In the top of the sixth the Redhawks found new life as they exploded for five runs. Bracamonte was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Frank Montiel singled to left and both runners advanced to second and third on a throwing error by the leftfielder. Levi Olson was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs. Lawson burned the Racers with his second double of the game scoring Montiel and Bracamonte. The Racers again intentionally walked a Redhawks batter to load the bases, this time Wollis. Gibson made the Racers pay again for their decision as he singled to left to drive in his second and third RBIs of the game. Wollis later scored his fourth run of the game on a RBI groundout by Jordan Payne to end the Redhawks scoring barrage.

Despite the five-run lead Head Coach Mark Hogan took no chances, especially since the Racers scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie and eventually win game one in extra innings the previous day.

He kept Lawson in the game as he pitched a perfect ninth to give the Redhawks the 15-10 win.

Lawson was credited with the victory, his first career win, with two perfect innings of work striking out two Racers.

Lawson also went 2-6 from the plate with his two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Seven Redhawks recorded multi-hits in the game led by Bracamonte and Gibson who each had three hits. Bracamonte went 3-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Gibson went 3-4 with three RBIs.

Montiel also finished with three RBIs as he went 3-5, doing most of his damage on Friday with his second homer of the season.

Jenkins went 2-3 with two RBIs.

Both teams combined for 29 hits, with the Redhawks collecting 17 hits.

The 15 runs were the most runs scored by the Redhawks this season.

After deciding the second game would be a seven innings game instead of the scheduled nine inning affair originally planned, the Redhawks kept the offense going.

After Payne walked, Bracamonte singled to center moving Payne to third. Payne then tagged-up and scored on a Montiel fly to right.

The Racers countered with a run in the bottom of the first to knot the game at one.

The Redhawks scored two in the second when Gibson was hit by a pitch and stole his fourth base of the season. Jenkins drove in Gibson with a single up the middle. Jenkins then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher as his throw went into center, Jenkins then rounded third and went home and scored as the centerfielder had trouble fielding the errant throw.

In the fifth the Redhawks extended their lead to 6-1 when they exploded for three runs in the inning. Bracamonte led off with a walk and later moved to second on a Montiel single. Bracamonte moved to third on a fielder's choice and then scored along with Lawson on a fielding error by the Racer's second baseman. Wollis then layed down a sacrifice bunt to drive in Olson, who had walked earlier in the inning.

Murray State then tied the game six-all with a huge five-run fifth inning and later pulled ahead for first time of the game with a run in the sixth.

The Redhawks bats were silenced the final two innings but had a chance in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with two outs but Horstman flied out to end the game, 7-6.

Horstman singled in the sixth inning to keep his team-high 13-game hitting-streak alive.

Jenkins went 1-2 with one RBI and a run scored to extend his hitting-streak to six games.

The Redhawks will return home to face regional rival Arkansas State on Tuesday, March 29 at Capaha Field. First pitch will be at 3:00 p.m.