April 14, 2006

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Friday, April 14, 2006) If the last week as been any indication, the Redhawks bats are finally catching up with their arms as the Redhawks banged out 20 hits including 13 for extra bases with five coming via the long-ball as they split their daytime doubleheader with Ohio Valley Conference leader Samford at Capaha Field Friday afternoon. The Redhawks were thwarted 6-5 in game one despite three homeruns but rallied with a 7-4 win in game two despite Head Coach Mark Hogan not in the dugout.

Coach Hogan had to sit out the second game of the doubleheader per OVC rules stating that coaches have to sit out the subsequent game after Coach Hogan was ejected for arguing a bang-bang play at the plate in the first game. With Associate Head Coach Scott Southard at the helm the Redhawks got a superb outing by Anthony Maupin on the mound and four batters collected multiple hits.

The Redhawks (14-19, 5-6 OVC) trailed 2-0 in the second inning but former pitcher and new designated hitter Andrew Johnson collected his third homerun in as many games with a solo shot to deep center to make it 2-1.

In the third the Redhawks grabbed the lead when Daryl Graham led-off with a single to right. After moving to third on a Omar Padilla grounder he scored on a fielder's choice. Younger brother Andrew Graham followed with a two-out single and moved to third on a Philip Riley double. Showing respect for the hot-hitting Johnson, Bulldogs (19-16, 9-2 OVC) starter Eric Lassiter (3-3) and the coaching staff intentionally walked him. That strategy didn't work out as Dustin Pritchett doubled to plate two and give the Redhawks a 4-2 lead.

The Bulldogs tied the game with two runs in the fourth off of Maupin.

The Redhawks got those runs back in their half of the fourth when Daniel Schuh led-off with a single and moved to second on an error by the Bulldogs leftfielder. He later moved to third on a Daryl Graham grounder. Padilla then collected a double, plating Schuh. Padilla then stole third and then scored on a Levi Olson single for the insurance run.

In the sixth Daryl Graham added his first career homerun with a solo blast to center to account for the final margin.

Graham finished 2-2 with two runs scored. Padilla and Johnson joined him with 2-2 performances. Padilla collected two doubles to give him a total of four in the doubleheader. Johnson hit his team-leading fourth homerun in only his 10th game and seventh start. Olson went 2-4 with two RBIs.

Riley went 1-4 to extend his hitting streak to six games and Pritchett went 1-3 with two RBIs to extend his to four games.

Maupin (4-3) recorded his second-straight complete game victory as he pitched all seven innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out four.

The Bulldogs were led offensively by Garrett Rice and Trey Moody who each finished 3-3 and each collecting two RBIs.

In game one the Redhawks collected three homeruns but that was not enough to overcome 11 Bulldogs hits despite seven of the eight Redhawk hits going for extra bases.

The Bulldogs collected a run in the first and two runs in the third to jump out to a 3-0 lead. In their half of the third Olson cut the deficit to one with a two-run blast to leftfield for his first homerun of the season.

In the fourth the Redhawks tied the game when Riley scored on a wild pitch by Josh Ehmke after leading off with a double. The Bulldogs answered with two runs in the seventh and a run in the eighth.

The Redhawks got a run back in the eighth when Riley hit a solo shot off the scoreboard for his third homerun of the season. In the ninth Johnson hit a solo shot to left center to lead-off the inning to cut the margin to one, but reliever Joseph Edens retired the next three Redhawks for his seventh save of the season.

Jamie McAlister (4-6) was collared with the complete game loss allowing six runs on 11 hits. He struckout seven while only issuing one walk.

Ehmke got the win, his sixth of the season, pitching eight innings and allowing four runs on seven hits and striking out 11.

Padilla went 2-4 with two doubles and Riley went 2-3 with two runs scored.

The Redhawks conclude the series tomorrow with one game at Capaha field. First pitch is slated for 1:00 pm.