March 8, 2009
Box Score
Lamar scored two runs in the first inning and the first eight overall in defeating Nicholls State, 8-1, and winning the SLC opening series for both teams at Vincent-Beck Stadium Sunday.
Lamar (12-2, 2-1 SLC) won its third-consecutive weekend series and its 17th in its last 20 dating back to the 2005 season. Nicholls falls to 5-7 overall and 1-2 in league play.
Tyler Link went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Steven Tucker went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run. Matison Smith (3-0) struck out four in 6.2 innings while scattering four hits to earn his third-consecutive win.
Link opened the game by crushing a 1-2 fastball over the second wall in left field to put the Cardinals on the board. Quentin Luquette followed with a single, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and came home on a fielding error by shortstop Stephen Gauthe.
Wade Mathis led off the fourth with a double to the wall in left center and scored from third two batters later on a Link single to right. Ryan Saldivar scored on Brian Taylor's bases loaded fielder's choice and Tucker drove in Link on a single to right center that made it 5-0 Lamar.
The Cardinals blew the game open in the seventh with three unearned runs. Ross Larson came on in relief with the bases loaded and struck out the first two batters he faced but all three runners scored when third baseman Josh Labiche's throw sailed wide of first and gave the Cardinals an 8-0 lead..
Nicholls scored it lone run in the top of the eighth when the Colonels loaded with bases with one out on back-to-back walks and a hit batter. Adam Miley then singled to left field to score Chris Murril. The bases-loaded threat was eliminated on a double play when Miley was erased at second on a fielder's choice, but the final out was recorded when Scott Moseley, who was running from second to third, appeared to fake catch the ball for an interference call.
Tyler Minto (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs in 3.1 innings. Miley had two of the Colonels five hits and drove in their run.
Lamar will close out its 16-game homestand with a pair of midweek games against Prairie View on Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch both days is at 6:30 p.m.
