March 11, 2006

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. - Senior William Delage turned in another stellar outing on the mound and Lamar University scored three times in the sixth inning to break free for a 6-1 over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference baseball action at Alumni Field.

Lamar improved to 11-8 overall and evened its record at 1-1 in SLC play. SLU dropped to 8-7 overall and 1-1 in SLC play. The Cardinals and Lions will play the rubber game of the series today at 1 p.m.

Junior left-hander Derrick Gordon, who is 1-2 with a 5.31 earned run average, is expected to start for Lamar. Jason Waguespack, who is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA, is SLU's probable starter.

After three scoreless innings, the Cardinals finally broke through against SLU starter Chris Province for a run in the top of the fourth inning. C.J. Ebarb was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Dan Hernandez singled to left field with one out and Matt Lambeth walked to load the bases. Jo Jo Haney drove in Ebarb with the game's first run on an RBI ground out to second base.

SLU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a 2-out, solo home run to left field by Dillon Sudduth, which was all the offense the Lions would muster all game.

Lamar broke the game open with three runs in the top of the sixth. Ryan Baker, who was 2-for-5, led off with a single to center field and Hernandez, who was 2-for-4, singled up the middle. After Lambeth hit into a fielder's choice, Haney drove in Baker from third with a sacrifice fly to right field. He reached base on the play as Ty Summerlin dropped the fly ball, but Haney was still credited with an RBI since Baker would likely have scored from third anyway.

With runners on second and third, Will Henderson, who was 2-for-4, delivered a 2-run single up the middle to put Lamar up 4-1.

The Cardinals added insurance runs in the seventh and eight innings to stretch their lead to 6-1. Ebarb, who was 1-for-4 with two runs scored, and Baker followed with a single to right field to put runners on the corners with one out. Hernandez drove in Ebarb with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Henderson led off the eighth inning with a double to left field. Two batters later, Collin Delome doubled to right field to drive in Henderson with the game's final run.

Delage improved to 4-1 on the season and moved into a tie for fifth place on Lamar's career games started list with 40. He tossed seven and one-third innings, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Chuckie Platt pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on one hits with two strikeouts.

Province (2-2) took the loss for the Lions, allowing six runs, five earned, on 13 hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

Lamar pounded out 13 hits in the game, including four doubles. Erik Kanaby went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to 11-games, which is the longest by a Cardinal this season. Lambeth went 2-for-4 with a run scored.