Feb. 20, 2005
Box Score
HOUSTON - For six innings Lamar was in complete control Sunday's game at No. 10-ranked Rice University. However, the Owls tied the game in the seventh and scored six unearned runs in the eighth, aided by four Cardinal errors, for an 8-2 win in the final game of the Coca-Cola Classic at Reckling Park.
Lamar, who dropped to 7-2 on the season, remains on the road this weekend. The Cardinals will play Texas-San Antonio Thursday at 1 p.m. in the first game of the Midland Rockhounds College Classic. The rest of the field includes New Mexico State and Texas Tech.
The Cardinals jumped on Owl starter Matt Ueckert with a run in the first inning. Colt Crawford started it off with a single and advanced to third on Adrian Cantu's double down the right field line. Michael Ambort was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
Will Henderson hit a looping single to right field that scored Crawford with the game's first run. Jeremy Gray struck out and Jo Jo Haney grounded out to third base to end the inning. That was an omen of things to come as the Cardinals left 13 bases runners stranded in the game.
Lamar loaded the bases again in the fourth inning with just one out. Murray Gilbertson grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Colin DeLome started a two-out rally for the Cardinals in the top of the sixth inning with a single up the middle. Matt Lambeth and Gilbertson both walked off reliever Bobby Bell to load the bases.
Crawford followed with an RBI walk to put Lamar up 2-0. Cole St. Clair came in to pitch for Bell and got Cantu to fly out to end the inning, stranding three more runners for the Cardinals.
Lamar starter William Delage cruised through the first six innings, allowing just one hit. Josh Rodriguez led off the bottom of the seventh for the Owls with a bunt single. Joe Savery walked with one out and Allen Harrington came on to replace Delage on the mound for Lamar.
Adam Morris coaxed a walk from Harrington and pinch-hitter Greg Buchanan delivered a 2-run single to left that tied the game at 2-2.
Some sloppy fielding by the Cardinals allowed Rice to score six unearned runs in the eighth inning. Rodgers started the inning by reaching on a throwing error by Crawford at shortstop. Lance Pendleton singled to left field and Danny Lehmann drove in the go-ahead run off Steve MacFarland (1-1), the Cardinals second reliever of the game. The Cardinals defense followed with three more errors in the inning to make the final score a little deceptive.
Delage pitched six and one-third innings, allowing two runs on two hits with four walks and three strikeouts. MacFarland took the loss in relief, allowing six unearned runs on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Pendleton (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Owls, allowing no runs on one hit over the final two innings. Ueckert allowed two runs on seven hits in five and two-third innings.
Lamar Linescore
Lamar 100 001 000 - 2 9 6
Rice 000 000 26x - 8 5 3
William Delage, Allen Harrington (7), Steve MacFarland (7) and Michael Ambort. Matt Ueckert, Bobby Bell (6), Cole St. Clair (6), Lance Pendleton (8) and Danny Lehmann. W - Pendleton (2-0). L - MacFarland (1-1). Sv. - none. 2B - LU: Cantu. 3B - none. HR - none. T - 3:09. A - 2945. Team Records - Lamar 7-2, Rice 7-1.
