April 4, 2009

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score | Photo Gallery

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Saturday, April 4, 2009) - The Redhawks baseball team just missed out on a doubleheader sweep of perennial Ohio Valley Conference power Jacksonville State at a lively and beautiful day at Capaha Park on Saturday. After pounding the Gamecocks 18-4 in the series opener the Redhawks squandered away a 7-1 lead and fell 8-7 in the nightcap as the Gamecocks scored seven runs in the final three innings including the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh and final inning.

The Redhawks (17-10, 7-1 OVC) looked to be on a roll using their momentum from their game one laugher to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead in game two.

Facing the Gamecocks (16-11, 5-3 OVC) ace and future Major League Baseball first round draft pick Ben Tootle, the Redhawks looked unimpressed by his 90+ mile per hour fast ball. In the third inning Kenton Parmley singled to lead off the inning and would later score on a passed ball for the first run of the game. With one out Tony Spencer drilled a pitch into the right-center gap to plate Nick Harris. After a walk to Justin Wheeler, Jim Klocke doubled to plate Wheeler and Spencer.

The Redhawks weren't done with Tootle yet. In the fourth Louie Haseltine led off with a single up the middle and later moved into scoring position on yet another Tootle passed ball. He scored on a double by Harris down the leftfield line. Trenton Moses made it back-to-back RBI doubles as he to went down the leftfield line to plate Harris. Moses moved to third on a Spencer groundout bit scored on Wheeler's two-out infield pop-up that landed in between four Gamecocks instead of being the final out of the inning. Moses' run gave the Redhawks a 7-1 lead.

To that point starter Todd Strahlendorf had kept the high-power Gamecocks offense in check. He ran into trouble in the fifth inning as he gave up three runs. Reliever Ryan Poole came in with one out in the inning and struggled as well as he didn't record an out and gave up a run and the Gamecocks cut the lead to 7-5 and had the bases loaded with only one out.

Head Coach Mark Hogan put in his closer Klocke to get the Redhawks out of the jam and he did as he retired the next two batters. However Klocke wouldn't have the same success in the following innings.

In the sixth he was greeted by a solo shot by lead-off hitter Todd Cunningham to make it a one run game, 7-6. In the seventh and final inning he was again greeted with a lead-off homerun as Kyle Bluestein lifted one over the leftfield fence to knot the game at eight apiece. The next batter Daniel Adamson singled and would later score the go-ahead run on Spencer Brandes two-out double that just went under the diving glove of first baseman Matt Wagner.

The Redhawks were put down in order in the seventh by Gamecocks closer Bill Henke to secure the win.

The Redhawks collected eight hits, led by Klocke who went 1-4 with two RBIs. Harris went 1-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base.

The Gamecocks had 13 hits and six batters that collected multiple hits including the first five batters in their lineup. Cunningham and Bluestein each collected their second homeruns of the day after hitting homeruns in game one.

Klocke (2-1) was collared with the loss as he allowed three runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of relief.

Tootle had his shortest outing of the year as he did not factor in the decision. He pitched four innings allowing seven runs on seven hits. Reliever Jordan Beistline (4-1) picked up the win in relief as he allowed one hit in two shutout innings. Henke got his sixth save of the season.

Game one was an offensive onslaught by the Redhawks as they recorded their ninth game this season scoring ten or more runs. The 18 runs were the Redhawks second best offensive output this season.

The Redhawks struck early and often as they scored two runs in the first off Klocke's two-run shot to right and two runs in the second to jump out to a 4-1 lead.

The Gamecocks battled back to tie the game in the fourth inning 4-4 thanks to homeruns by Cunningham and Bluestein.

The Redhawks answered in their half of the fourth with six runs highlighted by Wheeler's three-run double. Klocke and Tyrell Cummings each chipped in with an RBI singles and Wagner scored via a balk.

They weren't done yet as they would add eight more runs in the sixth inning. Cummings drove in two with double and Spencer collected three RBIs on his second career homerun.

Despite the offense it was the pitching that shined the brightest led by staff ace James Leigh. He improved to a perfect 5-0 on the year as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings. He struckout eight including two to end the first inning with the bases loaded.

Brad LaBruyere and Corey Harness combined to close the game as they allowed just one baserunner in 2.2 innings of relief.

Gamecocks starter Tanner Freshour (0-2) lasted just 3.2 innings allowing 10 runs (four earned) on six Redhawks hits.

Five Redhawks collected multiple hits led by Klocke who went 3-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. He was one of four Redhawks to record three RBIs as Spencer, Wheeler and Cummings all finished three RBIs.

The two teams will play the rubber game tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Capaha Park. Kyle Gumieny is slated to face Austin Lucas on the mound in the nine inning game.