March 1, 2011

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University's five-game winning streak fell to the wayside Tuesday afternoon, as did the Cardinals' unblemished all-time record against Texas Southern University.

Taking advantage of erratic Lamar pitching and shoddy defensive play by the Cardinals, the visiting Tigers clawed out a 5-1 victory before a crowd of 615 in Vincent-Beck Stadium. It was TSU's first win in the 21-game series between the teams.

Lamar starting pitcher Albert Lott was shaky from the start but managed to get through three scoreless innings despite issuing four bases on balls. John Gilligan, who relieved Lott, came through with two hitless, scoreless innings, but the Tigers broke through with a sixth-inning run off Taylor McInnis, who promptly hit the first batter he faced.

The real damage came in the seventh inning, however, when Zach Boulanger yielded four hits and four runs while managing to retire only one batter.

Meanwhile, the Tigers received an impressive pitching performance from starting pitcher David Williams. The lanky right-hander scattered six hits over seven innings and struck out one batter and walked three in evening his record at 1-1.

The Cardinals scored their only run when Williams uncorked a bases-loaded wild pitch that allowed Jude Vidrine, who boomed a double to the right-field wall, to score. Williams wiggled out of the jam, though, by enticing an infield popup from Ted Zentek and getting Aaron Buchanan to ground out to first base.

The Cardinals matched the Tigers' seven hits, but they also hit into three double plays and left 10 runners on base.

The Cardinals now have a one-day break before serving as the host team for the four-day, 2011 YMBL/Cardinal Club Classic. Lamar plays San Francisco in Thursday's 6:30 p.m. game, while Cal State-Northridge and New Mexico State will kick off the tournament at 1 p.m.

LAMAR