March 5, 2011

Box Score

BEAUMONT, Texas - Despite having to work in cold and windy conditions Saturday afternoon, Shane Hamaker made his first collegiate start a successful one.

Hamaker worked the first five innings of Lamar University's 12-6 victory over New Mexico State on Day 3 of the 2011 YMBL/Cardinal Classic. The 6-foot-5 transfer from Alvin Community College struck out eight batters, while surrendering only two hits and walking two.

Hamaker and the two relievers - Jeff Abt and Macho Trimm -- who followed him to the mound received plenty of offensive support. Third baseman Pablo Salinas led the Cardinals' 12-hit attack by going 3-for-4, while first baseman Wade Mathis, shortstop Aaron Buchanan and catcher Joey Latulippe collected two hits each. Mathis was the RBI leader with three.

The Cardinals put up three runs each in the second, third and sixth innings to build an insurmountable 9-1 lead, but the Aggies, who won 10 of their first 11 games this season, closed the gap with a four-run seventh inning. Coach Jim Gilligan's Cardinals, who improved to 8-5 on the season, answered with a two-run seventh and added their final run in the eighth.

Ted Zentek's sacrifice fly plated Latulippe with the Cardinals' first run in the third inning, and Kevin Roebuck added an RBI single later in the frame. The Cardinals loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Cameron Johnson, Latulippe and Salinas in the fourth, and Zentek and Jude Vidrine added RBIs in the frame.

In Saturday's first game, New Mexico State rode second baseman Parker Hipp's grand slam to an early 6-1 lead over San Francisco, then held on for a 7-6 win over the Dons. The day's final game - between San Francisco and Cal State-Northridge - didn't start until 8:10 p.m. The four-day, four-team tournament will conclude Sunday with a Lamar vs. Cal State-Northridge game at 1 p.m.

LAMAR