May 20, 2005

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CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Friday, May 20, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State baseball team came into their series with Ohio Valley Conference opponent Tennessee-Martin knowing that they controlled their postseason destinies. Needing a sweep in their last regular season series to assure a berth to the 2005 O'Reilly Auto Parts OVC Baseball Championships in Padacuh, Kentucky next week, the Redhawks took care of business on Friday when they swept both games of a doubleheader 6-4, 4-2 against the visiting Skyhawks at Capaha Field.

Redhawks (23-30, 14-12 OVC) won their sixth-straight OVC contest with the combination of timely hitting, gold-glove defense and outstanding pitching.

Both Redhawks starters pitched complete games with Joey Evans throwing nine innings of six-hit ball in game one and Jamie McAlister going seven.

The Redhawks looked as though they would have a field day against Skyhawks (12-42, 6-19 OVC) starter Adam Ledlow as they touched him for three runs in the first inning. Eric Horstman led-off with a double down the leftfield line and later moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Brady Noll. Frank Montiel then singled through the left side of the infield to score Horstman. Freddy Lopez then doubled to the opposite field to move Montiel to third. Brent Lawson then followed with a double of his own to plate both runners for the quick 3-0 lead.

At the time that seemed like all the Evans would need as he cruised through the first five innings at one point retiring 12-straight batters.

The Redhawks gave him another run in the bottom of the fifth when Horstman reached base after being hit by a Ledlow pitch. Noll again lay downed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Horstman to second. Lopez later singled to center to drive in Horstman to make it 4-0.

Evans ran into some trouble in the sixth inning when the Skyhawks scored three runs on four hits to pull within one, 4-3.

In the seventh the Redhawks made it 5-3 when Noll led-off with a walk and gave way to pinch-runner Chris Gibson. Montiel then singled to move Gibson to second and knock Ledlow from the game. Lopez then reached safely on a fielder's choice and error by pitcher Micky Dobson trying to get the Gibson out at third to give the Redhawks a bases loaded situation. Lawson that hit a long fly ball to center that was deep enough for Gibson to tag and score.

The Redhawks added one more security run in the eighth when Levi Olson led-off with a single up the middle and then moved to second on a Ernie Bracamonte single. Both runners then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Bo Jenkins. Horstman was intentionally walked to load the bases for Gibson who drove in Olson with a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.

Evans was able to pitch around a jam in the ninth inning allowing an unearned run before retiring the last two Skyhawks with the potential tying runs on base for the complete game victory.

It was Evans' team-leading fifth complete game of the season as he allowed four runs, three earned on six hits while striking out six and walking only two. Evans improves to 8-4 on the season.

Montiel, Lopez and Bracamonte each recorded multi-hit games. Lawson collected a game-high three RBI.

Freddy Lopez went a combined 4-7 with two RBI on the day

Ledlow suffered his ninth loss of the season allowing five runs on eight hits in six innings.

Blake Turner led the Skyhawks offensively with a 2-4 performance.

Game two was a much tougher game for the Redhawks as they had to come from behind to score the victory.

The Skyhawks scored single runs in the third and fourth to grab an early 2-0 lead.

The Redhawks knotted the game in their half of the fourth when Lopez led off with a single to left. Lawson then doubled to right to plate Lopez. Bracamonte then singled to move Lawson to third. He later scored on a squeeze play by Jordan Payne to make it 2-2.

The runs scored seemed to calm the Redhawks as they held the Skyhawks at bay with marvelous play on the field including a couple of web gems by Jenkins at secondbase.

In the fifth the Redhawks scored the decisive runs as Horstman doubled to right to lead-off the inning and extend his hitting streak to 23 games. Noll placed another perfect sacrifice bunt down to move Horstman to third. Montiel then singled to plate Horstman for the eventual game winning run. Lopez then doubled down the rightfield line and a hustling Montiel scored from first to make it 4-2.

McAlister had his third-straight outstanding performance as he recorded his second-straight win and third complete game of the season. He allowed two runs on seven hits and only walked one while fanning four for his fourth win of the season.

The trio of Montiel, Lopez and Bracamonte again recorded multi hit games as all three went 2-3. Montiel extended his hitting streak to a season-high nine games.

Lawson went 1-3 with an RBI, his fourth RBI of the day and extended his hitting steak to a season-high eight games.

In terms of streak Horstman kept all three of his alive as he started his 109th-straight game, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 23 games and reached base safely for the 45-straight game, the longest active streak in the nation.

The Redhawks will attempt to complete the sweep and gain the postseason berth when the play their regular season finale tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. Ten seniors will be honored before the game as tomorrow marks their last collegiate game at Capaha Field.