EKU's standout lefty dominates Redhawks

Christian Friedrich failed to notch a victory Saturday.

But Eastern Kentucky's junior left-hander lived up to his billing as one of college baseball's top professional pitching prospects.

Friedrich held Southeast Missouri State to an infield single in eight dominant innings.

With Friedrich out of the game, Southeast rallied for a 5-4, 10-inning win in the opener of a doubleheader.

That, however, did nothing to diminish the performance of Friedrich, who is expected to be taken in the first round of next month's amateur draft.

"He was as good as advertised," Southeast coach Mark Hogan said. "You have to admire the kid. All the pressure he's under, with all the scouts out to see him, to come through like he does."

With the draft only a few weeks away, professional scouts are intensifying their looks at top prospects.

That's why about 15 scouts — radar guns in hand — were at Capaha Field on Saturday to scrutinize the 6-foot-3, 208-pound Friedrich.

It's doubtful Friedrich did anything to disappoint them.

Hogan and EKU coach Elvis Dominguez both said their programs' radar guns clocked Friedrich as high as 95 mph. Hogan and Dominguez said Friedrich threw consistently between 90 and 92 most of the day.

"It was real impressive," said James Leigh, Southeast's own junior left-hander who started against Friedrich. "I can see why he'll be a first-round draft pick."

Friedrich struck out 13 and walked six. The only hit he allowed was to Zachary Blemker in the fifth inning as Blemker barely beat out a ground ball up the middle.

"He showed how good he was," Southeast's Nick Harris said. "He had all of his pitches working."

Friedrich, who also allowed just one hit over eight shutout innings last week against Samford, has given up only 33 hits in 73 2/3 innings.

Friedrich remained at 5-1, but lowered his OVC-best ERA to 1.59. He has struck out 99 and walked 30.

"I'd say that was in the top three I've had all year," said Friedrich when asked to rank his stuff. "I had everything working — the fastball, the curve and the slider."

Although Friedrich likely could have finished off an EKU victory — the Colonels led 4-0 when he left — he said he understands that Dominguez doesn't want to do anything to jeopardize his pro career.

"I had a pretty high pitch count," said Friedrich, who threw 127 pitches.

Dominguez said Friedrich was coming out after eight innings no matter the score.

"You're talking about a first-round pick," Dominguez said. "He's as good as advertised."

Friedrich said he feels no added pressure despite having so many scouts watch his every move each time he pitches.

"I'm pretty used to it by now," he said. "I just know I have to do my job."

Friedrich, a native of Evanston, Ill., has been among the OVC's premier hurlers since his freshman season. His career has blossomed after not being recruited by many major programs out of high school.

"I've put on a lot of weight and added some pitches," he said. "The coaches here have done a lot with me."

Friedrich said he has no idea where he might go in the draft, which he said likely will determine whether he signs or returns to EKU for his senior season.

"I'm hoping for the first round," he said. "We'll see what happens."