March 4, 2008

Box Score

Brian Sisk, Ricky Testa and Tim Erickson combined for a three-hit shutout as Lamar defeated McNeese State 4-0 at Vincent-Beck Stadium Tuesday.

Lamar (5-3) scored three runs on three hits in the fourth and added another in the sixth to provide the necessary offense in winning back-to-back shutouts for the first time in exactly two years since blanking Iona and Connecticut, March 3 and 4, 2006, respectively.

Lamar had only seen four men reach base through the first three innings thanks to a pair of walks, a hit batter and a fielder's choice, but with two outs in the fourth saw their bats come to life.

Ryan Saldivar walked and scored on a hit-and-run when Nik Gumeson belted a two-strike pitch to the gap in left-center to get the Cardinals on the board. Steven Tucker followed with an infield single that scored Gumeson. After stealing second he came home on a Travis Dunson single through the right side that made is 3-0.

Lamar added an unearned run in the sixth when Saldivar used his speed to his advantage. After reaching on an error by Cowboy third baseman Lee Orr, he stole second and moved to third on a Gumeson groundout before a Tyler Davis wild pitch allowed him to score.

Dunson, Gumeson, Tucker and Brian Taylor all collected one hit for the Cardinals.

McNeese State (1-8) was held scoreless for the second time this season and tied a season-low with just three hits.

Sisk (2-0) earned the win after striking out six in seven innings. Testa and Erickson did not allow a hit in two innings of relief. In fact, the LU staff retired 16 of the final 17 Cowboy batters, including ten-straight by Sisk over his final 3.1 innings.

The Cardinals were perfect on the base paths with five stolen bases, including a pair by lead-off man Moore.

The two teams will meet again on Wednesday at Cowboy Diamond in Lake Charles, La. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.