April 8, 2008
Box Score
HOUSTON - Lamar recorded 13 hits for the second-straight game but allowed seven runs in the second inning of a 13-5 loss at No. 6 Rice at Reckling Park Tuesday night.
Lamar (20-11) scored single runs in the first, second and fifth, and two in the eighth but left eight men on base and hit into a season-high three double plays.
Brian Taylor went 3-for-5 with a run and extended his hitting streak to a season-best 10. Steven Tucker and Nik Gumeson also had two hits and drove in a run for the Cardinals.
Brian Needham (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing eight runs on five hits and four walks in 1.1 innings.
Mike Ojala (2-0) picked up the win for Rice with seven strikeouts in 6.1 innings, while scattering nine hits. Aaron Luna was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs including a two-run home run in the second that gave Rice (24-10) a 2-1 lead.
Lamar opened the game with a walk to Anthony Moore and back-to-back singles by Taylor and Tucker. Moore scored without a throw on Tucker's hit to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
Rice took a 2-1 lead when Luna took connected on his fifth home run of the year over the fence in left field. Diego Seastrunk scored from first after getting a two-out single. Rick Hague then walked on four pitches and scored on a Adam Zornes double that crept over Tyler Link's glove in right field. Zornes added the Owls' fourth run on a ball through the right side by J.P. Padron.
The Cardinals got a run back in the second when Brent Harris doubled to the warning track in center and scored on a Gumeson bloop single down the right field line on the first pitch he saw that trimmed the Rice lead to 4-2. It was Gumeson's third RBI of the season.
Rice plated seven runs on just three hits and an error in the second. Only one of the seven was earned following an error to the second batter of the inning. The Owls added single runs in the fourth and eighth.
Lamar will return to Southland Conference play this weekend when Sam Houston State pays a visit to Vincent-Beck Stadium. Friday's game is at 6:30 p.m., Saturday's is at 2 p.m. and Sunday's finale is set for 1 p.m.
