April 29, 2006

Box Score

SAN MARCOS - Lamar pounded out 14 hits, including eight for extra bases, as the Cardinals rebounded with a 9-3 win over Texas State Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference baseball action at Bobcat Field to even the series at one game apiece.

Lamar improved to 31-14 overall and 18-5 in SLC play. Texas State dropped to 23-24 overall and 15-8 in SLC play. The Cardinals and Bobcats play the rubber game of the three game series today at 1 p.m.

Matt Lambeth led off the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run off the scoreboard in right center field that put the Cardinals up for good 4-3. Erik Kanaby doubled to left field, the first of three straight two-baggers for the Cardinals and all coming with two outs. Jo Jo Haney lined a double that was just inside the left field line to drive in Kanaby. Collin DeLome doubled down the right field line, which hit off the first base bag, to drive in Haney and give Lamar a 6-3 lead.

The Cardinals would add three more runs in the top of the eighth inning to break the game open. C.J. Ebarb reached on a fielder's choice and Ryan Baker singled to center field. Colt Crawford drove in both runners with a 2-run double to left field. Kanaby, who was 3-for-5 with a run scored and two RBI, drove in Crawford with a single to center field to extend Lamar's lead to 9-3.

Scott Meyer (5-0) picked up the win in relief for Lamar. He allowed no runs on one hit with one walk and five strikeouts in three and one-third innings pitched. Starter William Delage tossed the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. He raised his career strikeout total to 255, needing one to tie and two to surpass Kyle Green's school-record total of 256.

Texas State started the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Cassidy Dresch drew a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Kyle Jones. Luke Cannon was intentionally walked to set up a double play situation. Aaron Garza delivered a two-out single to center field to drive in Dresch with the game's first run.

Lamar tied the game at 1-1 with a run in the top of the third inning. Baker doubled down the left field line and Kanaby drove him in with a two-out double down the left field line.

The Bobcats took a 2-1 lead on Garza's lead-off home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lamar scored twice in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. Crawford, who was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, walked to lead off the inning.

Haney walked and Dan Hernandez drove in Crawford with a two-out single to left field to tie the game. Will Henderson, who was 2-for-5, followed with an RBI single to right field to plate Haney.

Texas State scored a run in the home half of the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Dawid Bednarek led off the inning with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Casey Guest. Thomas Field followed with an RBI single to left center field.

After getting just one extra base hit in Friday's 14-6 loss to the Bobcats, Lamar belted seven doubles and a home run on Saturday. The Bobcats, who had four home runs and three doubles in Friday's game, were held to just Garza's home run on Saturday.

Sophomore Allen Harrington, who is 2-2 with a 2.72 earned run average, is expected to start today for Lamar. Mike Hart, who is 2-2 with a 3.20 ERA, is Texas State's probable starter.