Senior Erik Kanaby went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's win, extending his hitting streak to a school record 24 games.

Baseball 3/16/2007 12:00:00 AM

Lamar Wins Southland Conference Opener, 11-3, Over Texas-Arlington

March 16, 2007

BEAUMONT - Senior Erik Kanaby singled in his first at-bat to extend his hitting streak to a school-record 24 games and went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in to lead Lamar University to an 11-3 win over Texas-Arlington Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium in the Southland Conference opener for both schools.

Lamar improved to 13-8 overall and 1-0 in SLC play. UTA dropped to 9-12 overall and 0-1 in SLC play. The Cardinals and Mavericks will continue the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m. and close out the series Sunday at 1 p.m.

Junior Allen Harrington, who is 2-2 with a 5.33 earned run average, is expected to start for Lamar. Dillon Gee, who is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA, is UTA's probable starter.

UTA started the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Brock Wilson led off with a walk and Daniel Rieder followed with a double to right center field. Matthew Otteman drove in Wilson with the game's first run with an RBI ground out to shortstop.

Travis Dunson and Erik Kanaby both singled for the Cardinals in the bottom of the third inning. Collin DeLome cleared the bases with a 2-run double to right center field. Michael Ambort followed with an RBI single to right field and Jeff Vickers doubled down the line in right field to drive in Ambort and give Lamar a 4-1 lead.

Mitch Putman singled to lead off the fourth inning for the Mavericks. David McLeod delivered a 2-run home run to left field, which was the first of his career, to cut Lamar's lead to 4-3.

The Cardinals responded in the home half of the fourth inning. David Moore was hit by a pitch from UTA starter Chris Taylor to lead off the inning. Keith Towne drew a walk and Travis Dunson sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Kanaby followed with a 2-run single to center field to push Lamar's lead to 6-3.

Lamar scored twice in the seventh inning. DeLome led off the inning with a single to center field and Ambort followed with a single to left to put runners on the corners. Baker walked to load the bases and Jeff Vickers followed with an RBI walk. David Moore drove in Ambort with an RBI single to left field.

The Cardinals closed out the scoring with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kanaby singled to center field and advanced to third on a two-base error by center fielder David Newby. DeLome, who was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, singled to center field to drive in Kanaby. Ambort reached on fielder's choice, Baker singled and Vickers walked to load the bases.

Brian Lloyd drove in Ambort with a fielder's choice ground out and Moore, who was 2-for-4, singled to left field to drive in Baker and give Lamar an 11-3 lead.

The Cardinals pounded out 15 hits, which marked the 14th time in 21 games this season that Lamar has posted a double-digit hit total. Ambort went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Vickers went 1-for-3 with two RBI. Towne was the only Lamar starter to not get a hit, and he walked and scored a run.

Lamar starter Brian Sisk (4-0) picked up the win. He allowed three runs on seven hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in six and two-third innings. Tim Erickson pitched the final 2 1/3 innings to earn his first save of the season. He allowed no runs on one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.

Taylor (2-1) took the loss for UTA, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with four walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Ryan Martin pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

Print Friendly Version