Feb. 18, 2011

Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - The University of Akron pushed across single runs in the third and fifth innings Friday afternoon and held on for a 2-1 season-opening victory over Lamar University in the opening game of the Mississippi State Tournament.

Junior right-hander Chris Bassitt came on in relief in the ninth inning and snuffed out Lamar's last hope at a comeback by striking out the side, setting down Joey Latulippe, Jeff Abt and Aaron Buchanan - all swinging - in succession.

The Cardinals pulled to within 2-1 in the eighth when Kevin Roebuck led off the inning with a ground rule double to centerfield, and Wade Mathis followed with an RBI double down the right field line.

Mathis and Latulippe led Lamar's seven-hit attack by going 2-for-4 each. The Zips, who are coming off a 21-34 season, collected five hits.

Zip starter Andrew Brown picked up the win by holding the Cardinals scoreless through 6.2 innings, allowing five hits, walking three and striking out four.

Starter Jonathan Dziedzic was the loser for Lamar, giving up four hits and two runs and striking out four and walking four in 4.1 innings. Eric Harrington pitched 2.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless ball, and Zach Boulanger worked a hitless, scoreless eighth inning for the Cardinals.

The Zips broke the scoring ice in the third inning on a walk to James Shelltrown, a sacrifice bunt by Jason Corzine and Drew Turocy's RBI single to right field. They made it 2-0 in the fifth on a walk to Corzine, a sacrifice by Turocy and a double to right field by Sam Trecaso.

The Cardinals, who went 35-26 last season, will make their second attempt at gaining Lamar's 1,400th alltime baseball victory in an 11 a.m. game Saturday against tournament host Mississippi State.

LAMAR