March 20, 2009

Box Score

Ryan Saldivar hit a two-out, 3-run double to break a 1-1 tie and help spark No. 29 Lamar to an 8-1 victory over Texas State at Vincent-Beck Stadium Friday night.

Lamar (16-5, 5-2 Southland) scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 6-1 lead. That was all starter Ricky Testa needed as he struck out five while scattering five hits over seven innings and improve to 2-1 in five Friday night starts.

Senior Tyler Link led off the game with a home run to straightaway center field to give the Cardinals a quick 1-0 lead. It was his sixth of the season and the fourth time he has opened a contest with a homer.

The Bobcats tied it in the top of the fourth on a bases-loaded ground out by Ben Theriot that scored Spenser Dennis. After a walk to Adam Witek, Testa got Jason Martinson to fly out in foul ground down the left field line and end the only true threat the Bobcats had on the night.

Saldivar's double, which came on a 3-2 count, went over the head of Tyler Sibley in left field and doubled his season RBI total up to six. Two batters later Brian Taylor delivered a two-run double into the gap in right-center to extend the Lamar advantage to 6-1.

The Cardinals tacked on two more in the seventh when Quentin Luquette drove in Chris Dunkin on a two-out single to left and Brent Harris came home on a wild pitch.

In all, five Cardinals collected two hits each as they outhit the Bobcats 12-6.

Texas State (10-8, 4-3 Southland) had just one extra-base hit - a triple by Sibley with two away in the fourth before being stranded on Bret Atwood's flyout. Cody Gambill abd Theriot each had two hits to lead the Bobcats at the plate. Zach Tritz (3-2) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked three and fanned three in five innings.

The same two teams will meet at 2 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on Sunday.