May 15, 2008
Box Score
LAKE CHARLES, La. - Lamar scored five runs in the last three innings, including the eventual game-winner on a Nik Gumeson pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the ninth as the Cardinals defeated McNeese State 5-4 at Cowboy Diamond Thursday.
Lamar improved to 30-21 overall and 18-10 in the Southland Conference while maintaining its half-game lead over Northwestern State - who won 3-2 at Central Arkansas - in the race for the East Division crown.
The Cardinals tied their season-high with 13 runners left on but it wasn't until the seventh inning when they started to get some results from their base runners. Tyler Link walked on four pitches and Brian Taylor singled to left to open the inning. Steven Tucker then snapped an 0-for-3 night with a two-run triple to left center before scoring on Travis Dunson's single to right center. Dunson scored to make it 4-1 Lamar on Chris Dunkin's double.
But McNeese, who took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, responded and tied the game at 4-4 with three in the bottom of the eighth. Mace Hebert and Sam Merrill each singled and then scored on Taylor Freeman's double into the corner in left. Freeman moved to third on a sac bunt and scored on Nick Eubanks' single back up the middle.
Jeff Vickers led off the ninth with a double to the wall in left and advanced to third on Jared Hill's pinch-hit sac bunt - his first of the year. Gumeson followed an intention walk to Dunkin with a fly ball to deep right field that allowed Vickers to come home easily.
The win was number 1,099 for Lamar head coach Jim Gilligan and the school's 26th season with at least 30 win in the last 33 years.
Tim Erickson (7-2) earned the win in relief after replacing Brian Sisk with no outs in the eighth. Sisk struck out three and scattered eight hits with three coming to the final three batters he faced. Erickson also struck out three.
Justin LeBleu (2-4) took the loss after 1.2 innings of work. He was the fourth McNeese pitcher used.
The Nos. 2-4 hitters for Lamar combined to 8-for-19 with four runs scored and three driven in. Dunson was 3-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to seven games. Tucker was 2-for-5 with his first triple of the year and a pair or RBI.
Lamar won for the fourth-consecutive time over MSU and has now won 15 of the last 18 meetings.
The final two games of the three-game set will be played at Vincent-Beck Stadium in Beaumont. Friday's game is set for 6:30 p.m. Lamar right-hander Brian Needham (3-4, 6.39) will oppose righty Jonathan Conrad (1-6, 9.05).
