May 8, 2010

NATCHITOCHES, LA. - The Lamar University baseball team split a Southland Conference doubleheader at Northwestern State Saturday, winning the opener 7-3 and dropping the nightcap 10-4.

In the opener, Pablo Salinas had three hits, including a home run, drove in two runs and scored twice to lead the Cardinals (27-21 overall, 12-14 conference), who snapped a season-long five-game losing streak. Anthony Moore also homered for the Cardinals.

Lamar starter Matison Smith (8-2) earned the win, allowing nine hits and three runs, two earned, over 7 1/3 innings. Smith walked one and struck out two. Jonathan Dziedzic picked up his first save by allowing one hit and no runs over 1 2/3 innings. Dziedzic walked one and struck out one.

Lamar jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning off Northwestern State starter Ryan Zimmerman (4-4). The Cards added two more in the top of the fourth before the Demons rallied to make it close with two in the fourth and one in the eighth. But the Cardinals put things away with three runs in the top of the ninth off of Northwestern State reliever Chad Sheppard.

Justin Martinez had two hits and two RBIs for Northwestern State in the opener. In the second game, Northwestern State (29-17, 16-9) collected 18 hits. The Demons held an 8-1 lead after four innings, providing starter Luke Irvine (5-4) with more than enough support. Irvine allowed 10 hits and four runs, all earned, over eight innings.

Wade Mathis had three hits for Lamar, while Salinas had two hits and two RBIs. Starter Eric Harrington (6-3) took the loss, allowing 14 hits and eight runs, all earned, over four innings.

The series wraps up with a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

LAMAR