May 9, 2005

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Monday, May 9, 2005) The Ohio Valley Conference announced that senior infielder Eric Horstman was named the OVC Player of the Week for his performance last week for the Redhawks. This is the second time this season he has garnered the weekly honor and the third time the Redhawks have won it overall.

Horstman hit .444, collecting eight hits in 18 at bats last. Among his hits was a triple and he collected a week-high eight runs batted in, as he set the tone of the high-powered Redhawks offense from the lead-off spot.

Horstman also scored four runs, had a .556 slugging percentage, a .524 on base percentage and stole a base.

In 21 plate appearances, only struckout once.

Went 2-4, including a triple with three RBI and a run scored in 13-6 loss vs Evansville. The three RBIs were the first three or more RBI game of the season for Horstman.

Had a huge series against OVC leader Morehead State, as he helped spark the Redhakws to their second OVC series win of the season.

In series opener went 2-6 with another three-RBI game and also scored a run. One of his RBI's was the gamewinner in the bottom of the ninth inning for the 8-7 win.

In the second game of the doubleheader went 1-4 in 3-0 loss to keep his hitting streak alive.

The rubber game of the series featured a 3-4 day for Horstman, his team-high 17th multi-hit game of the season, as he drove in two runs, scored two and swiped his team-leading 10th base of the season in helping his team score a season-high 16 runs.

He extended his hitting streak to 16-games, the second time this season he has recorded a hitting streak over 16 games. He also extended his streak of reaching base to 38 games. That streak currently ranks amongst the nation's longest active streaks.

Horstman was near flawless on the field as he recorded two putouts and eight assists in 11 chances.

Horstman also extended his club-high consecutive games started streak to 103-straight games.

For the year Horstman leads the team in batting with a .343 average. He also leads the team in eight offensive categories including runs (32), hits (62), on base percentage (.403) and stolen bases (10).

During his current 16-game hitting streak he is batting .415.

Horstman won the weekly award earlier in the season on March 14. Teammate Ernie Bracamonte joined him winning the weekly award on April 11.

Horstman and the Redhawks will travel to Cookeville, Tennessee this weekend to face OVC opponent Tennessee Tech for a pivotal three-game series. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 14 starting at 1:00 p.m. before concluding the series with a single game on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.