April 24, 2005

Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Sunday, April 24, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State baseball team recorded their first series sweep of the season when they defeated Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Illinois 5-3 Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field. The win pulls the Redhawks within one game of .500 in OVC play.

The Redhawks (16-22, 7-8 OVC) showed that they would not have a letdown after the previous days offensive output and stellar pitching.

Despite falling behind 1-0 early to the Panthers (9-26, 6-9 OVC) the Redhawks responded with a big inning in the bottom of the third.

Eric Horstman singled to left to extend his current hitting streak to eight games. Horstman later moved to second on a groundout by Ernie Bracamonte. Frank Montiel and James Clayton each drew walks to load the bases with two outs.

Levi Olson, who had struggled at the plate this season, singled down the left field line to plate both Horstman and Montiel. Designated hitter Freddy Lopez then ripped a single up the middle to drive in Clayton and give the Redhawks a 3-1 lead.

The duo of Olson and Lopez struck again in the fifth inning. Olson lined a double down the left field line and Lopez followed with a double of his own down the right field line to drive in Olson and knock Panther starter Kyle Widegren from the game. His relief was no better as Chris Vaculik allowed a single to Brent Lawson to drive in Lopez to give the Redhawks a four-run lead, 5-1.

In the seventh the Panthers were able to get Redhawks starter Derek Herbig out of his four-inning groove scoring a run. Head Coach Mark Hogan called upon Ryan Forsyth to relieve Herbig, but for the third-straight game the Redhawks received a solid outing from their starting pitcher.

Herbig went 6.1 innings allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out three.

Forsyth was solid in relief with the only blemish a solo homerun by Joe Hernandez in the eighth.

Forsyth was able to brush off that run and retire the next four batters for his first save of the season and second of his career.

Herbig received his third win of the season and Widegren (2-6) was credited with the loss.

Olson went 3-4 with two RBIs. Lopez finished 2-3 from the plate with two RBIs.

Horstman and Bracamonte also finished with two hits apiece. Bracamonte finished the series collecting six hits in 11 at bats and drive in three and scored four runs.

For the Panthers Erik Huber went 3-5, collecting his second three-hit game of the series.

The Redhawks will look to keep their three-game winning streak alive when they travel out of conference to face regional rival Southern Illinois for an afternoon game on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Abe Martin Field.