Feb. 18, 2006
Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - (Saturday, February 18, 2006) The Redhawks baseball team dropped the second game of a three-game series with McNeese State 7-6 at Cowboy Diamond in Lake Charles, Louisiana Saturday afternoon.
Down by three runs 8-5 heading into the top of the eighth the Redhawks (1-2) managed to score two runs but left the tying run on second base to end their comeback bid.
Omar Padilla singled with one out in the eighth. Asif Shah followed with a single of his own to right to move Padilla to second. Shah was later forced out when Andrew Graham hit into a fielder's choice. Freshman Aaron Rave then doubled to plate Padilla and Graham and then advanced to third on the throw to the plate. With Rave standing at third representing the tying run Phillip Riley got caught looking to end the Redhawks threat.
For the second-straight game the Redhawks showed an offensive punch. They jumped on Cowboys (3-4) starter Sam English in the opening inning scoring two runs. Rave drove in Jordan Payne and Graham on a single to centerfield for the quick 2-0 lead.
The Cowboys answered in their half of the second as they touched Redhawks starter Shah for three runs to grab the lead. Shah would not survive the inning as he was replaced by Brent Lawson after throwing 1.2 innings and allowing three runs on three runs and three walks.
The Redhawks would tie the game in the third when Payne doubled down the leftfield line to lead off the inning. Payne moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Padilla. Shah got the RBI when he grounded into a fielder's choice to score Payne.
The Cowboys gave English some cushion when they scored three more runs in the fourth off of Lawson to make it 6-3.
The Redhawks added a run in the sixth when Rave drove in Graham but the Cowboys added the decisive seventh run in the bottom of the seventh off of Daniel Schuh.
Rave had an outstanding game in the loss as he drove in five runs on three hits for the Redhawks.
Payne once again made things happen in the lead-off spot as he scored two runs. Graham scored three times as he went 1-2 and walked twice.
The Redhawks had a solid pitching outing from Schuh as he pitched 4.1 innings of relief allowing only one run on two hits.
Shah went 1-4 with one RBI but was tabbed for the loss on the mound.
English got credit for the win as he pitched 7.2 innings and allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits.
The Redhawks pitchers did manage to pitch around trouble as all three combined to issue nine free passes and eight hits making the Cowboys strand 11 runners.
The Redhawks will wrap-up the series with the Cowboys tomorrow when they take the field at noon.
