May 14, 2009

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Lamar scored six runs in the seventh inning and three pitchers combined to allow just eight singles as Lamar defeated Stephen F. Austin at Jaycees Field on Thursday.

Trailing 3-1 after six frames, Lamar (35-19, 19-12 SLC) scored its six runs on five hits, including a two-run double by first baseman Steven Tucker and a three-run home run by designated hitter Wade Mathis. It was Mathis' third long ball of the year and the 50th this season for Lamar, placing the 2009 squad in a tie for tenth-most in school history.

Tucker added two more runs on a single up the middle an inning later to give him a career-high four on the day.

The six run cushion allowed starter Eric Harrington to rebound from his first loss of the season - which he suffered last week - and improve to 8-1 with a 2.59 ERA. On Thursday he went six innings and scattered seven hits while allowing one earned run. Brian Needham and Taylor McInnis worked the final three innings and combined to strike out two and allow one hit.

SFA (22-29, 13-17 SLC) starter Erich Lehmann worked six innings and struck out eight while not factoring into the decision. Instead, Nederland native Alex Moshier (4-3) came on in the seventh and allowed the first four runs of the Cardinal rally on three hits for the loss.

After the Cards scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Moore in the fourth, the Lumberjacks pushed one across in the bottom of the fourth and two in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.

Lamar finished with 14 hits and left 10 men on base, including two in the first, third, fourth and eighth innings.

Second baseman Brian Taylor equaled his career-high with a 4-for-4 day, while Moore, Tucker and Quentin Luquette all had two hits apiece. Luquette pushed his hitting streak to a team-best 13 games. Tyler Link scored twice and seven other Cardinals crossed home once each.

The teams will play again on Friday at 2 p.m. and conclude the regular-season at 1 p.m. on Saturday.