April 3, 2010

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Lamar University' baseball team managed only four hits Saturday afternoon, thus losing its opportunity to sweep No. 21-ranked Southeastern Louisiana University.

The visiting Lions bunched all of their runs in the first thee innings and made them stand up in a 5-1 victory before a Vincent-Beck Stadium crowd of 496.

Junior first baseman Ryan Meade accounted for Lamar's lone run by blasting a sole home run - his second of the season - over the left centerfield fence in the second inning. The rest of the Cardinals' offense consisted of a pair of singles by catcher Joey Latulippe and a double by outfielder Quentin Luquette.

Jonathan Dziedzic, Lamar's starting pitcher, struggled in the first three innings, but steadied himself by lasting six innings over which he threw 106. In falling to 1-2 on the season, he allowed eight of the Lions' 10 hits, struck out five batters and walked two.

Justin Boudreaux's double down the right field line, a groundout and a single up the middle by Josh Cryer staked the Lions to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. They added three more runs in the second as Trey Martin, Cass Hargis and Jeff Harkensee picked up one run batted in each.

The Lions completed the scoring in the third inning when Cody Gougler led off with a walk and came around on a single by Chris Franklin and two groundouts.

Garrett Steward, who earned his first save of the season in Lamar's 7-4 victory to open the series on Thursday night, pitched the final three innings for the Cardinals. The junior right-hander gave up two hits and struck out four without walking a batter.

Lion left-hander Jordan Hymel worked the first six innings to notch his fifth victory in six decisions. He yielded two hits, and one run while striking out two and walking four.

Josh Janway, who pitched the final three innings for the Lions, earned his fifth save of the season. He gave up two hits.

While the loss dropped the Cardinals to 17-11 on the season and 4-8 in the Southland Conference, the win elevated the Lions to 24-5 and 8-4.