May 24, 2006
Box Score
BEAUMONT -Dan Hernandez singled in the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning and Derrick Gordon struck out Jason Keithley to end the game as No. 4-seed Lamar University scored six unanswered runs to defeat No. 3-seed Texas-San Antonio 6-5 in 11 innings in the final game of day one at the 2006 Southland Conference Tournament at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Lamar improved to 34-21 overall and UTSA dropped to 36-21. The Cardinals will face No. 2-seed Texas State Thursday night at 7. The Roadrunners will play No. 6-seed Northwestern State at 3 p.m. on day two of the double-elimination tournament.
Sophomore Collin Delome doubled to right field with one out on the top of the 11th inning. He advanced to third on Will Henderson's fly out to center field. After C.J. Ebarb walked, Hernandez singled to left field to drive in DeLome with the game-winning run.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, J.R. Voyles singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Michael Rockett singled to center field with two outs. Voyles advanced to third and Rockett took second on the throw to third base. Gordon (4-4) struck out Keithley on a 2-2 pitch to end the game.
UTSA scored all five of their runs in the second inning off Lamar starter William Delage, who became the school's all-time leader in games started with 51. Rockett led off the inning with a single through the right side of the infield. Keithley followed with a bunt single. Zach Etheridge sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Ryan Saltzgaber was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up the possibility of a double play.
Mitch Ponza followed with a 2-run single to left field. After Marshall Davis walked to reload the bases, Voyles drove in Saltzgaber with a sacrifice fly to left field. Michael McKennon closed out the scoring with a 2-run triple to right center field to put the Roadrunners up 5-0.
The Cardinals started their comeback with three runs in the top of the third inning. Andrew Gay singled to left center field with one out. Crawford singled up the middle with two outs. DeLome, who as named SLC player and hitter of the year on Monday, delivered a 3-run home run to right field. That was his 11th homer of the season and put Lamar back in the game at 5-3.
Lamar tied the game at 5-5 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Erik Kanaby, who was 2-for-5, singled to center field to lead off the inning. Henderson, who was 2-for-5, singled up the middle with two outs. Ebarb walked to load the bases. Hernandez, who was 2-for-5 with two RBI, drew a bases loaded walk on a 3-2 pitch to force in Kanaby. Ryan Baker drove in Henderson with an infield single to tie the game.
Gordon pitched the final five innings for the Cardinals, allowing no runs on three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Delage allowed five runs on six hits with four walks and no strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Chuckie Platt held the Roadrunners in check for 3 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Josh Blakely (3-2) took the loss in relief for UTSA, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts in four innings of relief. Starter Josh Ruffin allowed five runs on seven hits with seven walks and no strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings pitched.
