May 9, 2009

Box Score

Lamar broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the seventh and another in the eighth, and Ricky Testa allowed one hit in three scoreless innings as Lamar defeated UT Arlington, 3-1, at Vincent-Beck Stadium Saturday to even the series at 1-1.

Lamar (33-19, 17-12 Southland) had 10 hits and got a solid outing from starter Matison Smith, who struck out six and allowed one unearned run while scattering three hits in a no decision.

Tyler Link went 3-for-3 and gave Lamar a 1-0 lead in the first when he led off with a double and scored on Quentin Luquette's single two batters later. Jeremiah Sammy had two hits and drove in the third Cardinal run in the eighth.

Ricky Testa (6-3) picked up the win as he faced 11 batters and allowed a single, hit one Maverick and struck out a pair.

UTA (28-22, 18-11 SLC) tied the game in the top of the seventh when Matt Otteman singled and scored from first on a throwing error by Chris Dunkin. Testa came on in relief at that point and with a man on second and no outs needed just ten pitches to induce a ground out and a pair of fly outs to end the inning.

The Cardinals regained the lead in the home-half of the seventh when Anthony Moore singled and later scored on a wild pitch by Nathan Long to make it 2-1 Lamar.

Long (5-4) suffered the loss despite striking out eight while allowing two runs and eight hits.

Michael Choice collected two of UTA's four hits on the day. Andrew Kainer was 0-for-4 and reached on the Dunkin error in the seventh but saw his nation's best 36-game hitting streak come to an end.

The teams will meet in the series finale on Mother's Day at 1p.m. All mothers are admitted free of charge and children are invited to run the bases after the contest. Lamar's nine seniors will be recognized prior to the contest.