May 8, 2011

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Lamar University suffered a setback in its goal of repeating as Southland Conference Baseball Tournament champion as the Cardinals fell 4-2 to McNeese State on Sunday to fall to 10th in the conference standings.

Lamar, which fell to 25-23 overall and 11-16 in SLC play, will have two conference series remaining to try and move into the top eight and qualify for the SLC Tournament which will begin in San Marcos on May 25. The Cowboys (24-25) are currently tied with Nicholls for eighth at 12-15 in the SLC standings.

The Cowboys jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Shea Daly reached on a one-out single and moved to third when Taylor Drake followed with a double. Daly came home on a Trey Rickrode sacrifice fly to center, and Drake came home one batter later on a Blake Ellender single up the middle.

The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the fourth inning as they scored their first run of the game. Senior first baseman Wade Mathis led off the inning with a walk and put the Cards on the board three batters later when designated hitter Cameron Campbell doubled to left center to plate the run.

McNeese responded with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings to extend its lead to 4-1.

Senior Andy Mena, who batted .400 in the three-game series with McNeese, hit his first home run of the 2011 season to lead off the eighth inning. After a Jude Vidrine strikeout, the Cardinals got back-to-back singles from Aaron Buchanan and Ted Zentek to chase McNeese starter Zach Butler from the game.

Jordan Legros, who picked up his league-leading 11th save in the game, induced Mathis to ground into a double play and end the Cardinals' rally. Legros worked a perfect ninth inning to close out the game.

Junior Machon Trimm started and took the loss for the Cardinals, falling to 2-4 after giving up five hits and two runs over three innings of work. LU used three pitchers in the game, allowing 12 hits while striking out seven Cowboy batters.

Butler earned the win for the Cowboys after scattering six hits over seven and a third innings of work. The senior right hander improved to 5-3 on the year after striking out seven Cardinals.

Shortstop Jace Peterson led the Cowboy attack with four hits and one run batted in. Ellender and Rickrode each had two hits and drove in one.

The Cardinals will return home next weekend to host UT Arlington for a three-game series that begins Friday at 6:30 from Vincent-Beck Stadium.

LAMAR