April 2, 2011

Box Score

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Zach Hawkins' two-run, eighth inning home run broke a 4-4 tie and lifted the SIUE Cougars to a 6-4 victory over Morehead State Saturday in the second game of a three-game baseball series at SimmonsCooper Complex.

The win is the fourth consecutive for the Cougars who improved to 9-15 and 8-3 at home.

"We're getting better," SIUE Head Coach Gary Collins said. "We are starting to believe a little bit, getting good pitching, and timely hits. Things are rolling along right now."

Hawkins hit the first pitch he saw from Morehead State reliever Matt Robertson over the fence in right center for his first home run of the year. The long ball capped a 3 for 4 day for Hawkins who drove in four of the six Cougar runs.

"Zach has been flirting with that all season, Collins said. "He's hit a lot of long outs to right center. He got all of it. It was a great time to hit one."

It is the second time this season that Hawkins has finished with four RBIs. He leads the team with 22 for the season. Morehead State, 5-21, scored three times in the seventh inning to tie the score 4-4. All three runs came against SIUE starter Josh Malin, who allowed three hits and a fielder's choice without an out before departing. Andrew Deeds started the inning with a home run for the Eagles.

Malin tossed six innings allowing the three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out four.

Dustin Quattrocchi, 1-2, relieved Malin in the seventh and pitched three perfect innings, striking out two for his first win of the year.

"(Quattrocchi) has been coming around too," Collins said. "He got off to a slow start (this year)."

The Cougars broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a pair of runs against Eagles' starter Garrick Whittle. Hawkins singled to drive home Matecki with the first run of the day. Matecki had walked. Brett Keeler made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to bring in Devin Caldwell. Caldwell had reached after being hit by a pitch.

Morehead State cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the sixth. Bud Morton led off the inning with a double then scored on a ground out by Luke Bainer.

Keeler and Hawkins each had RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth inning to put SIUE up 4-1. Keeler finished 1 for 1 with the two RBIs, a sacrifice fly, a sacrifice bunt and a walk.

Daniel Pugh led the way at the plate for Morehead State. Pugh was 2 for 4.

The Cougars will try for the series sweep Sunday afternoon. First pitch against the Eagles comes at 1 p.m. Senior Spencer Patton will toe the rubber for the Cougars.

"I like my chances with Spencer on the mound," Collins said. "The wind blowing out doesn't bother him."

"That's what we're about, trying to win these conference games," Collins added. "Even though they're not conference games yet. A sweep would be great."