April 12, 2006

Box Score

By Nathan Saverino, Redhawks Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Wednesday, April 12, 2006) - Things just keep getting better for senior pitcher-turned-DH Andrew Johnson. After hitting safely in all four games he played last week, including his first career home run against Southern Illinois, Johnson led Southeast in a 9-5 Southeast road win over the University of Missouri on Wednesday. A grand slam to left center capped off a six-run third inning that proved to be the difference in the ballgame.

The third inning started out with a single by Omar Padilla, who then moved to second on a throwing error by Tigers (16-15) starter and Cape Girardeau native John Thies. Levi Olson drove him in with a double to left center. After Aaron Rave and Phillip Riley reached with one out to load the bases, Thies (1-1) walked in a run with a base on balls to Dustin Pritchett. One pitch later, Johnson drove a no-doubter to left center to clear the bases and bookend the six-run showing.

Southeast (13-18) gave up three runs to the Tigers in the bottom half of the inning. Staretr Asif Shah lost command of his pitches momentarily in the inning. He hit John McKee with a pitch, and he ultimately scored on a wild pitch.

Regardless of some control issues, Shah (2-1) pitched another brilliant game against Missouri. He recorded his first career complete game, but not before throwing an astronomical 193 pitches. The southpaw allowed just eight hits to a Tiger team that scored five runs (three earned) in Columbia. He also sat down five Missouri batters on strikes.

The Redhawks tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth innings. Padilla and Olson tag-teamed for another single and RBI-double combination. Rave drove the senior catcher across the plate two batters later with a single through the right side.

Rave was one of six batters that finished the night with multiple hits. He recorded a team-leading four base knocks in five at-bats. Every Redhawk batter recorded at least one hit, setting a new season high hit total of 17.

Pritchett slugged in one more run in the seventh inning. His first home run as a member of Southeast was a solo job to left.

Olson was 2-5 at the plate with two doubles, and now has double-digit two-baggers with 10. The senior also drove in two runs and scored twice.

Johnson not only delivered a grand slam Wednesday night, but he also recorded another career first: a triple to right center in the fifth. He was 2-5 on the day, and improved his batting average to .381 when starting as the designated hitter.

He will try to deliver more miracles back home at Capaha Field this weekend against Samford. Shah's complete game tonight was a valuable performance for SEMO, resting the bullpen for the conference series that will begin a day earlier than normal this weekend. Southeast will attempt to muzzle the league-leading Bulldogs in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. on Friday and wrapping up at 1 p.m. on Saturday.