Renfrow tosses six-hit shutout

~ Redhawks take sole possession of first place in OVC with win.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- A schedule change did nothing to slow down Southeast Missouri State's ascent to sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Redhawks rode early offense and the brilliant pitching of Dustin Renfrow to a 4-0 win over host Samford on Saturday night in the opener of a three-game series.

The teams were slated to have a 1 p.m. doubleheader, but because of rain during the day, they played only one game, with a 7 p.m. start.

There will be a pair of seven-inning games today beginning at 11 a.m., instead of the regularly-scheduled nine-inning contest.

Southeast (22-12, 8-2) entered play tied for first place in the OVC with Jacksonville State, but now has the top spot for itself after the Gamecocks split a doubleheader with Eastern Illinois.

Defending OVC regular-season champion Samford (16-18, 3-7) continued to struggle despite being picked to repeat its title. The Bulldogs entered play eighth in the 10-team league.

Renfrow came into the contest leading the OVC and ranked 20th nationally with a 1.72 ERA, even though his record was just 2-0 thanks to six no-decisions.

The junior right-hander lowered his ERA to 1.47 and added a victory to his total with a complete-game six-hitter. He struck out six and walked two.

It was Renfrow's second shutout of the season, both in nine-inning contests. The other was a 5-0, non-league decision over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on March 16.

Southeast built a 4-0 lead through three innings and that was more than enough cushion for Renfrow.

The Redhawks broke on top 1-0 in the first inning. Freshman catcher Jim Klocke walked with one out, freshman third baseman Nick Harris singled with two outs and Klocke scored on sophomore first baseman Matt Wagner's single.

In the second, senior right fielder Daryl Graham walked and, with two outs, senior second baseman Omar Padilla delivered the game's key blow, a two-run homer.

It was Padilla's fifth home run of the season, which puts him in a three-way tie for second on the team.

Senior designated hitter Asif Shah got a one-out single in the third and came around on a wild pitch for a 4-0 advantage.

Samford left-hander Josh Ehmke, the 2006 OVC pitcher of the year, was lifted after just three innings. Ehmke (5-4) allowed five hits and took the loss. He struck out two and walked two.

Southeast did not have a hit after the third inning as Samford reliever David Knapp worked the final six frames. He struck out six and walked one.

The Redhawks will start a pair of left-handers today in Shah (4-0, 2.59) and freshman Josh Syberg (4-1, 3.09).

Shah is third in the OVC in ERA and second in strikeouts (49). Syberg is seventh in ERA and first in strikeouts (51).

The Bulldogs will also use one of the OVC's top hurlers in right-hander Chandler Tidwell (2-3, 2.75), who has the conference's fourth-best ERA.

Samford's other starter for today has not been announced.