April 4, 2006

Box Score

By Nathan Saverino, Redhawks Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Tuesday, April 04, 2006) - Despite scoring a season-high 10 runs on Tuesday afternoon at The Billiken Sport Center in St. Louis, the Redhawks baseball team could not hold on for the win. With a 5-run lead over Saint Louis heading into the bottom of the eighth, Southeast Missouri gave up three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth as they fell to the Billikens, 10-11.

Southeast (10-15) appeared to have the game under control needing only 6 outs to end the game with their fifth consecutive win. However, the Billikens (14-12) had other plans for the Redhawks bullpen. Greg Rodgers and Gilbert Marlowe led off the inning with back-to-back singles off of reliever James Hibbard. Then junior Casey Moore delivered with a three run homer.

Josh Parham received more of the same in the bottom of the ninth. After coming on with two outs in the eighth, Parham (0-2) quickly ended the inning. He retired the first batter in the ninth, but then hit Johnny Sweeney with a pitch. Rodgers took advantage with a two-run blast to knot the game at 10 runs apiece. Marlowe followed with a three base gap-shot into right-center. Coach Mark Hogan opted to load the bases with two intentional walks to cut off the run at home, but the Redhawks defense never got the chance as Parham hit a his second batter of the inning to bring in the winning run from third.

Southeast jumped out on top of SLU starter and Sikeston, Mo. native Lance Rhodes in the second inning. Dustin Pritchett walked and moved to third on a Levi Olson single to left center, and Andrew Johnson loaded the bases with a base on balls. Aaron Rave recorded an RBI and kept the bases loaded with a single. Robby Moore and Omar Padilla were each credited with an RBI after drawing a walk and being hit by the pitch. Andrew Graham capped off the six run inning with a three run double to clear the bases.

The Billikens came within one run, scoring a run in the second and fourth innings, and three more unearned runs in the fifth after two Southeast errors. The Redhawks the jumped out to the 10-5 lead in the top of the sixth, plating four. Moore drove in Johnson while reaching on a fielder's choice, and Padilla pocketed two RBIs that sent Rave and Moore into home. Jordan Payne scored the fourth run of the inning on an error.

Padilla ended the day 2-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. After Tuesday's two-hit performance, he has now hit safely in four straight games.

A converted pitcher, Johnson made his first start in the lineup today and was successful at the plate. As the designated hitter he was 2-4 wit a double and scored on two occasions.

Starter Phillip Riley worked 4.1 innings, and allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on five hits. In his first start of his collegiate career, he struck out three and walked one.

Rodgers was the force at the plate for the Billikens. He was a perfect 3-3, including the game tying home run in the ninth inning. He drove in two and scored four runs.

Dan Cowsert picked up the win for Saint Louis. He retired all three batters he faced in the top of the ninth to record his first victory of the season

The Redhawks are back in action tomorrow at Capaha Field. Southeast will take on the local rival Salukis of Southern Illinois - Carbondale in a non-conference showdown at 3 p.m. The game can be heard live on 1220 KGIR or via the internet on www.kgir.com.