Biography
2011 (Junior): Named second team All-OVC for the second time in his career after leading EKU with a .357 batting average for the second consecutive season … also led the Colonels with 44 runs scored, five triples and 19 stolen bases … led the OVC with 82 hits … has started every game at shortstop for EKU since arriving on campus in 2009 … struck out only 21 times in 255 plate appearances … finished the season with 22 multiple-hit games and four four-hit games … delivered a couple of monster series, batting .692 (9-for-13) with two doubles, a triple, two runs scored and two RBI in a season-opening three-game series at Pepperdine, and then batting .750 (9-for-12) with eight straight singles in a three-game set at regular season OVC champion Austin Peay … batted 3-for-4 with two stolen bases and three runs scored in a home win over Marshall on April 5 … led EKU to a win over Dayton in the Colonels’ home finale, finishing the day 4-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored, two triples and a bag short of the cycle … came to the plate in the bottom of the eighth of that game needing a home run for the cycle, but instead rocketed an RBI triple into deep center field that travelled an estimated 400 feet … batted .302 with a team-leading 20 stolen bases while winning the Valley Baseball League Championship with the Covington Lumberjacks over the summer.
2010 (Sophomore): Followed up a freshman campaign in which he was named second team All-OVC by leading the Colonels with a .357 batting average … started every game of the season at shortstop and in the leadoff position … led the OVC with 244 at-bats … was the fourth toughest batter in the OVC to strike out, registering just 0.31 strikeouts per game … finished sixth in the OVC in hits (87), fourth in stolen bases (21) and fourth in triples (four) ... also compiled 11 doubles, five home runs, 37 RBI and 55 runs scored … recorded 24 multiple hit games, including five four-hit games … posted the fifth-longest hitting streak in the OVC on the season (15 games) …batted 4-for-5 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored in an OVC showdown with Southeast Missouri (April 3) … went 4-for-5 with an RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in the Colonels’ near-upset of BIG EAST foe West Virginia (April 13) … paced EKU in a 4-3 win over Murray State on the opening day of the OVC Tournament by going 4-for-5 with a run scored and two stolen bases.
2009 (Freshman): Named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball magazine following the season … only freshman in the conference to earn All-OVC honors when he was voted second team All-OVC … was also named to the OVC All-Freshman team … the only Colonel to start every game, and he did so at one of the most important positions on the field … was the second toughest batter to strike out in the OVC, striking out only 13 times in 179 at-bats … hit .302 and was second on the team in runs scored (51) and doubles (15) … also swiped 14 bases … batted 4-for-6 with two runs scored against conference foe Morehead State (March 29) … scored six runs against Kentucky State (April 1) and four runs against Western Carolina (April 8) … blasted his only home run of the season, a three-run shot, with no outs in the bottom of the 10th to pull the Colonels to within one run of UT Martin before they fell to the Skyhawks, 10-9 (April 5) … stole multiple bases in four games.
High School Accomplishments: Batted .345 as a senior with only six strikeouts in 90 at-bats ... swiped 12 bases ... invited to the Under Armor Classic Showcase in the summer of 2008 ... hit .383 as a junior with two home runs, 27 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 13 doubles and five triples ... also compiled a .585 on-base percentage and a .914 fielding percentage ... named third team All-Dade County that year ... played for Linedrive Baseball out of Miami in the summer of 2008.
Personal: Born Feb. 15, 1990 … son of Alina and Rolando Rodriguez ... majoring in accounting.
Get to Know Richie Rodriguez ...
One interesting fact about yourself: I fall asleep during movies
What is currently playing on your iPod: “Right Above It” by Lil Wayne
What is your favorite inspirational quote: “Whether you think you can or that you can’t, you’re probably right”
Favorite movie: The Hangover
If you could have dinner with three people, they would be: Will Ferrell, Alex Rodriguez, and Lil Wayne
Favorite food: Steak
Three things on your “bucket list” are: Skydive, see the Great Wall of China, and go to Cuba
What song gets you pumped before games: “Right Above It" by Lil' Wayne
Plans after baseball: Major League Baseball or accountant
What has been the biggest highlight of your EKU career: Making the OVC Tournament last year
What do you want to accomplish before your career at EKU is over: Winning a championship
