April 09, 2006

Box Score

By Nathan Saverino, Redhawks Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Sunday, April 09, 2006) - Southeast pitchers struggled today to keep the Gamecocks off of the base paths. The pitching staff allowed 22 hits to Jacksonville State, who went on to score 21 runs in the series finale on Sunday. The Redhawks countered with seven runs, and are still searching for their first road series win this season.

Southeast pitchers continued their struggles on the road this season. Including today's game, the pitching staff holds a collective 6.67 ERA in away games compared to a 3.69 mark at Capaha Field.

Jacksonville State (15-17, 5-4 OVC) was running on all cylinders from the first pitch. Starter Matt Darwin retired the first nine Redhawks (12-17, 4-5 OVC) of the ball game, and the offense ignited the Gamecock's scoring attack with four runs in the fourth, including a two-run homer by Richard Turner.

After allowing the four in the first, Derek Herbig (2-2) exited the game early with two outs in the second inning, but not before giving up another run. Jacksonville State had the southpaw figured out as Herbig gave up five runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.

The Southeast bullpen didn't have much luck stopping the Gamecocks after Herbig. JSU added on two in the third and one in the fifth before exploding for eight runs in the sixth, three of which were unearned. They capped it off with five more in the bottom of the eighth.

The Redhawks finally figured out Darwin the second time through the lineup. Jordan Payne led off the inning with a single. With one out, he moved to third as Levi Olson extended his hitting streak to six games on a single to left. Aaron Rave singled to drive in Payne, and Phillip Riley loaded the bases with a walk. Andrew Johnson and Dustin Pritchett each followed with RBIs in the four-run inning.

SEMO would add three more before the game was finished, including a solo home run off the bat of Riley. The homer was his second of the year, but wasn't enough as the Redhawks fell big to Jacksonville State, 21-7.

Omar Padilla's hitting streak was snapped at seven games today with an 0-3 performance at the plate. Padilla, however, did record in RBI in the fifth on a sacrifice bunt.

Relief pitcher Matt Carter was the only Southeast pitcher who did not allow a run or a hit to the Gamecocks on Sunday. He retired all four batters he faced in one and a third innings, including a strikeout.

Clay Whittemore led the Gamecocks at the plate with a 2-5 showing and 5 RBIs. He also scored two times.

Southeast will return to action with two non-conference grudge matches on the road this week. The squad travels to Carbondale, Ill. On Tuesday and Columbia, Mo. on Wednesday as the Salukis and Tigers look to defend their home fields much like the Redhawks did.