April 6, 2011

Box Score

HOUSTON – Jeff Abt and Wade Mathis each drove in a pair of runs, leading Lamar University to a 5-2 win over the University of Houston in non-conference baseball action Wednesday night at Cougar Field.

The Cardinals return home to host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a three-game Southland Conference series this weekend at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Lamar and the Islanders will play Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.

Lamar started the scoring with four runs in the top of the third inning. After a Cameron Campbell ground out, Andy Mena singled to left field. Aaron Buchanan and Ted Zentek both walked to load the bases.

Jeff Abt delivered a 2-run single to left field, driving in Mena and Buchanan. Wade Mathis followed with an opposite field 2-run double down the left field line to plate Zentek and Abt to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.

UH responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Caleb Ramsey was hit by a pitch from LU starter Albert Lott and advanced to second on a ground out. Matt Creel singled to left field to drive in Ramsey with the Cougars first run of the game.

The Cougars added another run in the home half of the fourth inning. Joel Ansley singled to center field with two outs. He stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball by catcher Cameron Campbell. Ryan Still walked and stole second base. Ansley scored on the play when second baseman Mena mishandled the throw to second on the steal attempt to make the score 4-2.

Lamar closed out the scoring with a single run in the top of the ninth inning. Clayton Farhat singled to center field with one out. Pinch-runner Andrew Dewey stole second and scored on Joey Latulippe’s double to straight away center field to put the Cardinals up 5-2.

The Cougars threatened in both the eighth and ninth innings. Machon Trimm worked out of a bases loaded jam in the eighth, striking out Chase Jensen to end the inning. After the first two hitters reached safely to start the ninth, Cannon popped out to second, Austin Gracey flew out to shallow right field and Ansley lined out to center field to end the game.

Albert Lott (1-0) started and picked up his first win of the season. On a predetermined pitch count, Lott allowed one run on three hits with no walks and two strikeouts in two and two-third innings pitched. Trimm pitched the final inning and a third for his third save of the season.

Abt went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Buchanan and Mena both went 1-for-3 and each scored a run for the Cardinals.

UH starter Taylor Hammack (0-2) took the loss for the Cougars. He allowed four runs on four hits with two walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings. M.P. Cokinos went 4-for-5 at the plate to pace the Cougars.