May 27, 2006

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By Nathan Saverino, Redhawks Sports Information

PADUCAH, Ky. (Friday, May 27, 2006) - All it took was one big inning for the Southeast Missouri baseball team to see the writing o the wall for the 2006 season. Eastern Kentucky exploded for an eight run fifth inning as the Redhawks were eventually eliminated from the O'Reilly OVC Baseball Tournament, 14-10.

Southeast (23-33) trailed just 2-1 heading into the fifth, but the trouble began immediately for starter Jamie McAlister. OVC Player of the Year Charlie Yarbrough led off the inning with a double. Yarbrough began a streak of 10 consecutive Eastern Kentucky (29-25) batters to reach base. The first two outs in the inning didn't come with retired batters, but instead were recorded when Levi Olson threw out a runner attempting to steal and Dustin Pritchett threw a runner out at the plate.

After the first five runners in the fifth inning reached base, McAlister (4-12) came out of the game in favor of yesterday's starter Phillip Riley. Riley went on to give up four hits to the next five batters, including a two-run homer by Yarbrough, while also hitting one batter with a pitch before recording the final out of the inning.

Southeast didn't back down easily though, getting back into the game with five runs over the next two innings. Three of the runs came in the sixth inning with two outs. Olson singled with two outs, and score on Jordan Payne's double to center. Pritchett followed with his second home run of the season, a two-run blast over the wall in left-center.

With two more runs in the seventh, Southeast charged back to make a 10-6 game. Although they also went on to score a run in the eighth and three more in the ninth, they sealed their own fate in the eighth inning. James Hibbard issued a two out walk, and then allowed the runner to advance to third on his own throwing error. Before the inning was through, the Colonels' wining run crossed the plate on a passed ball charged to Olson.

As McAlister picked up his 12th loss of the season in the elimination game, he also became the holder of the OVC's record for losses in a single season. The senior right-hander finished the day having allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits in 4.1 innings.

Although the Redhawks were eliminated by Eastern Kentucky, it was not before they did some eliminating of their own earlier in the day. Southeast squared off with Austin Peay in an elimination game at 11:00 a.m., and they impeached he Governors, 10-9.

Southeast jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Omar Padilla and Brent Lawson hit back-to-back doubles to start the inning. After Olson reached first on a passed ball on strike three, Payne cleared the bases with a three-run shot to left center. Pritchett then reached on the shortstop's throwing error that allowed him to move into second base. He moved to third on an Aaron Rave single, and then scored as the shortstop made another error that allowed Andrew Graham to reach base.

Southeast extended their lead to 6-0 in the fifth as Payne hit his second homer of the game, a solo blast to left. The pair of home runs gave him his third two home run game of the season and brought his total to nine on the year. He ended the game 3-5 with five RBIs and two runs scored, his second five RBI game in as many weeks.

Heading into the seventh, the Redhawks were up 8-2 until Austin Peay threatened with a rally in the top of the inning. Starter Asif Shah issued free passes to the first three hitters in the inning, and gave out one more walk after recording a ground out. The four base on balls spelled the end for Shah, who went 6.1 innings and was responsible for six runs on five hits, seven walks, and three strikeouts. Josh Parham came on in relief, but the Govs' damage was done before he could work out of the jam as they scored six runs to tie the game at eight.

With the game slipping out of their hands, the Redhawks quickly regained control with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Daryl Graham walked to lead off the inning and moved into second on a sacrifice bunt and then Padilla was walked intentionally. Graham went on to score on a Lawson single and Padilla ultimately scored the game-winning run as reliever Cory Gunter delivered two wild pitches that allowed him to score.

Austin Peay came back with a run in the eighth to bring the score within one and threatened in the ninth with two runners in scoring position and two outs. However, McAlister came on to strike out the only batter he faced to end the game, earning his third save this season. Parham (2-2) was credited with the win, and Gunter (1-1) picked up his first loss of 2006.

As the Redhawks wrap-up the 2006 season with an overall record of 23-33 and an 11-16 mark in play against OVC teams, several players made it into the single season record books with their play this year. Olson ends the year with 20 doubles, tying him for third on the all-time charts for two-baggers in a season. Payne's nine home runs are the most by a Redhawk since three Southeast players recorded double digit numbers in 2003, and Rave now holds the fifth spot in the season charts for base on balls.

From the mound, Parham's 27 appearances this season ties him for third most in a season in the school record books, and McAlister's 109.1 innings pitched is good for third on the season charts.

Finally, Rave can boast a single season record all his own. With 419 putouts at first base this season, the freshman is now atop the single season putout charts at Southeast. The prvious record was 412 set by Kris Blum in 1994. With three years as a Redhawk ahead of him, Rave is nearly halfway Darin Kinsolving's all-time mark of 907.