April 9, 2009
Box Score
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Lamar jumped out to an eight-run lead and answered every Sam Houston rally as the Cardinals defeated the Bearkats, 13-6, in the first game of their Southland Conference series at Don Sanders Stadium Thursday night.
Anthony Moore made his first start in three weeks and capitalized on the opportunity by collecting three hits, including a pair of two-run doubles in the first two innings and scored twice to lead the Lamar attack. Chris Dunkin, who belted his fourth home run of the year, also had three hits and scored three times.
If Lamar (23-11, 10-6 SLC) was hurting following its one-run loss to third-ranked Rice from a night earlier, it sure didn't show it by jumping on the scoreboard for six runs in the first and three more in the second for a 9-1 lead. Moore's two-bagger in the first brought in Jeremiah Sammy and Wade Mathis for a 5-0 lead.
Sam Houston got one run back in the bottom of the first when Braeden Riley and Nick Zaleski hit consecutive singles to put runners at the corners with one out. Seth Hammock's sacrifice fly to Moore allowed Riley to come home.
An inning later, the Cardinals were back at it, score three more runs, highlighted by another Moore double that scored Dunkin and Ryan Saldivar.
Dunkin led off the fourth with a solo homer to left and Moore scored on a Brian Taylor sac fly in the fifth to extend the Cardinals' lead to 11-1.
The Bearkats scored twice in the bottom of the fifth due in large part to three walks by starter Eric Harrington, including a bases loaded free pass for the second run of the frame.
But Lamar got both runs back in the top of the sixth. Dunkin singled to lead off the inning and was followed by Ryan Saldivar's two-run homer to left center. It was his fourth of the season and third in league play, which tied him for the team lead.
Sam Houston chased Harrington from the game in the sixth after putting two men on base before Zaleski made it a 13-6 ball game with a 3-run shot over the wall in center.
Cory Holley came on and worked the final 3.1 innings and struck out five while scattering four hits. He picked up his first save of the season as he worked out of a pair of minor jams in the seventh and ninth innings, and a situation in the eighth with runners at the corners and only one out. The Bearkats put a runner on second with two away in the other two innings but he got a groundout to second by the nine-hole hitter each time.
Harrington (6-0) remained perfect on the season despite allowing a season-high six earned runs. He entered the game second in the nation with a 0.87 earned run average and just four earned runs. The freshman struck out six while giving up nine hits.
Sean Weatherford (4-3) took the loss after allowing 10 runs, but just two earned in four innings. Sam Houston (18-13, 9-7) equaled Lamar with 13 hits but committed all four errors in the first three innings. They also struck out 11 times and stranded 11 base runners.
The teams will play the second game of their three-game set on Friday at 2 p.m. with the final set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
