May 6, 2006

Box Score

By Nathan Saverino, Redhawks Sports Information

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Saturday, May 06, 2006) - After Anthony Maupin pitched a brilliant complete game against Eastern Kentucky in game one, the skies opened up and poured rain on Capaha Field. Maupin threw his sixth complete game of the season in an 11-2 win over the Colonels, but the nightcap was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader tomorrow. On Sunday, SEMO and EKU will play two seven-inning games with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 120:00 p.m.

Eastern Kentucky (21-21, 10-8OVC) came into game one on Saturday ranked number one in the Ohio Valley Conference in hitting. With a .307 batting average as a team, the Colonels also led the league in home runs, doubles, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. However, the Redhawks (17-26, 8-11 OVC) put the numbers up on the scoreboard Saturday afternoon with 11 runs on 11 hits, including three home runs.

Meanwhile in the field, Maupin (6-4) threw seven perfect innings on the mound. After retiring the first nine batters in order, he gave up the only two runs of the game in the fourth inning on a walk and three-straight singles. He allowed only one more hit the rest of the game with two outs in the sixth inning, and retired the last 10 EKU batters to finish the game.

EKU starter Scott Goetz was not so effective. Southeast scored in the bottom of the second to start things off when Andrew Johnson hit his team-leading sixth homer of the season; a solo shot over the 400-mark in centerfield. Then, the offense really got things rolling with four runs in both of the next two innings.

Jordan Payne hit a one-out double to start things in the third, and he moved to third as Omar Padilla reached on a bunt up the third base line. Chris Gibson extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI single through the right side. After a failed pickoff attempt that resulted in an error and an intentional walk, the bases were loaded for Levi Olson. Olson delivered with a two-run double to left, and Johnson drove in one more when he reached on an error by the shortstop.

After two runs for the Colonels in the top of the fourth, the Redhawks doubled the number in the bottom half of the inning. Payne immediately got the two-runs back in the first pitch of his at bat. After a Phillip Riley single to lead off the inning, Payne drilled the first pitch down the left field line for a towering two-run homer. Padilla's double to right-center was the end for Goetz (2-6), but the Redhawks scored two more before the end of the inning with some help from another error from the Eastern Kentucky shortstop.

Besides leading the conference in hitting, the Colonels also came into the weekend leading the OVC in errors. All in all, Eastern Kentucky committed five errors in the ballgame, including three by shortstop Lucas Waters. Southeast took advantage, scoring runs in three of the four innings when an error was committed.

They added a run in the fifth, and one more in the eighth as Padilla knocked his third home run of the year over the left field wall.

Five Redhawks recorded multiple-RBI games today, including three from Olson. Olson was 1-4 with a double and a sacrifice fly.

Padilla led the team at the plate with four hits in five at bats today, including a double, home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Padilla was also caught stealing for the first time this season when he was thrown out in the first inning.

With two losses by both Tennessee Tech and UT-Martin today, Southeast is alone in seventh place in the OVC, and only one-half game behind Tennessee Tech for sixth place. Only the top six team in the conference are invited to the OVC Baseball Tournament in Paducah, Ky.

The series with Eastern Kentucky will wrap-up tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. Both games will be seven-innings, and they can be heard liveo 1220 KGIR or via the internet at www.kgir.com.