April 1, 2011

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. - Blake Ford and Machon Trimm combined on a six-hitter Friday night and did not allow an earned run as Lamar University opened a three-game Southland Conference series with a 3-1 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.

Ford, a 6-foot-5 senior right-hander from Lufkin, picked up the win to move to 4-2 on the season. He allowed four hits in 6.2 innings and got into trouble only in the seventh when the Cardinals committed their only error of the night and he hit two batters, the second forcing in the Lions' only run.

Trimm, a 6-2 junior left-hander relieved Ford with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh inning, pitched his way out of that jam and held the Lions at bay on only two harmless singles over the final 2.1 innings to earn his second save of the season.

The Cardinals, who improved to 19-10 on the season and 7-3 in the SLC, won despite managing only three hits, including none over the final four innings.

Lion ace Brandon Efferson, a 6-0 senior right-hander, was the hardluck loser for the Lions, who fell to 17-10 overall and 5-5 in the league. He allowed three hits over 7.0 innings while striking out eight batters and walking four.

The victory moved Lamar's Jim Gilligan to within four of reaching the 1,200 in this, his 35th season as a head coach and his 34th with the Cardinals.

Senior shortstop Aaron Buchanan drew a one-out base on balls to get the Cardinals' two-run first inning started, and moments later junior outfielder Jeff Abt doubled to centerfield to score him. Abt advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on senior first baseman Wade Mathis' sacrifice fly.

The Cardinals increased their lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning when Mathis led off with a walk, stole second base and scored on a single to right field by senior designated hitter Cameron Johnson.

Meanwhile, Ford cruised through the first six innings, holding the Lions to one single each in the first, third and fourth. A one-out single by Josh Cryer ended Ford's string of 12-straight batters retired, and Cryer came around to score an unearned run as Andy Mena made a fielding error at second base and Ford hit two-consecutive batters to force in the run.

Trimm relieved Ford at this juncture and promptly ended the bases-loaded threat by getting Brock Hebert to ground out to Pablo Salinas at third base.

The teams will play Game 2 of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday, and the finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday, both also at 2,500-seat Alumni Field.

LAMAR