April 23, 2005

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Saturday, April 23, 2005) In a season of up and downs for the Redhawks baseball team, Saturday afternoon had to be the one of the highlights of the year. Not only did the Redhawks win both games of a doubleheader at Capaha Field against Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Illinois but in their 7-2 game two victory gave Redhawks Head Coach Mark Hogan his 700th career victory as a head coach.

Coach Hogan now has a career record of 700-511-3 (.576 winning percentage) in 24 years as a head coach, 11 of those as the skipper of the Southeast program where he has a record of 323-255-1 (.558).

The Redhawks (15-22, 6-8 OVC) showed a balance off lights-out pitching, slick fielding and timely hitting in the two victories over the Panthers (9-28, 6-8 OVC).

Both starters for the Redhawks pitched complete games.

In game one Joey Evans pitched the full nine innings allowing four runs, two earned and showed no signs of tiring despite allowing 13 hits and throwing 133 pitches. He helped his own cause by not issuing a walk and 83 of his pitches went for strikes as he struck out seven Panthers.

Evans got help immediately as the Redhawks scored two runs in the opening inning. Eric Horstman doubled down the leftfield line. Ernie Bracamonte then singled knocking in Horstman and eventually ended up at third after a throwing error by the catcher. He later scored on an RBI groundout by Frank Montiel for a quick 2-0 lead.

The Panthers scored two in their half of the third to knot the game at two apiece but the Redhawks got those runs back and then some when they scored five runs in the third.

Bo Jenkins led-off with a walk, he then moved to second and Jordan Payne ended up at first on an error by the shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Horstman moved them into scoring position. Bracamonte was intentionally walked to load the bases for clean-up hitter Montiel. Montiel made the Panthers second-guess themselves with a double to left center clearing the bases. Freshman James Clayton followed Montiel with a double of his own plating Montiel. Levi Olson got into the action next with a single down the leftfield line to score Clayton amking it 7-2.

In the fourth the Redhawks added another run when Horstman reached on a walk and then stole second then moved to third when the attempt to throw him out got pass the second baseman. He then tagged up and scored on a Bracamonte fly ball.

The Redhawks weren't done yet as they added one more in the fifth when Payne drove in Brady Noll with a single.

The Panthers managed to touch Evans for two runs in the seventh but that was not enough as the freshman picked up his team-high six win and his fourth complete game of the season.

Bracamonte and Montiel led the Redhawks at the plate as Bracamonte went 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Montiel went 1-5 with his team-high 12th double and collected four RBIs.

In game two Jamie McAlister was given the start. McAlister, who has been used primarily out of the bullpen and leads the team in appearances made just his second start of the season.

He didn't disappoint as he also went the distance, pitching seven innings and allowing only two runs on seven hits while striking out five.

The offense gave McAlister the run support he needed right of the bat in the first inning. Horstman reached on a bunt single and then stole second and third, his third stolen base of the day. Bracamonte then singled to plate Horstman. Bracamonte then moved to third on a combination of a wild pitch and ground out by Montiel. Clayton then doubled to left center to give the Redhawks a quick 2-0 lead.

In the third the Redhawks added two more when Payne led-off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Horstman. Both moved over on a Bracamonte grounder. Montiel then was intentionally walked to load the bases. Clayton worked the count and eventually walked to plate Payne. Horstman then scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Olson.

The Panthers broke up McAlister's shutout bid in the fourth, recording one run, but squandered the chance of a big inning as they McAlister shut them down with the bases loaded.

The Redhawks got the run back when they scored in their half of the fourth when Payne doubled in Jenkins.

In the fifth the Redhawks added two more insurance runs. Bracamonte recorded his second hit of the game when he led-off with a single. Montiel followed with a single of his own. Clayton then singled to drive in Bracamonte. Montiel later scored when he tagged-up and scored on a Freddy Lopez fly ball to make it 7-1.

The Panthers again had a chance to cut into the Redhawks lead in the sixth but only managed one run and left two runners in scoring position.

Horstman, Bracamonte and Clayton each collected two hits apiece. Clayton recorded three RBIs.

The Redhawks will look for the series sweep tomorrow when the teams return to Capaha Field for one game. First pitch is at 1:00 p.m.