March 24, 2012

Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Lamar University got solid work from a trio of pitchers Saturday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field, but the Cardinals' offense couldn't scratch out a run as Northwestern State earned a 3-0 Southland Conference baseball victory.

Lamar has now been shut out four times in conference play in falling to 8-14 overall and 1-7 in league play. The Cardinals will look to pick up a win in Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale before returning home to host Rice on Tuesday evening.

Senior Machon Trimm earned his second start of the season, pitching four solid innings for the Cardinals. Trimm gave up just three hits and one earned run as NSU (9-12 overall, 6-2 in the Southland) was able to push across runs in the first and second innings. Trimm, who also struck out three, took the loss to fall to 0-1 on the year.

Center fielder Drew Helenihi led off the Demons' half of the first with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by right fielders Jordan Buckley. Helenihi moved to third on a bad pickoff throw by Trimm, and scored what would turn out to be the game winning run on a groundout by catcher Nick Purdy.

An error once again hurt the Cardinals in the second inning. Will Watson led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a stolen base. After Trimm induced third baseman Ryan Westbrook into a fly out, Watson stole third and scored on an error by LU catcher Thomas Henk.

Junior Carter Hahn took over for Trimm in the fifth inning and worked 3.2 innings. Hahn allowed just three hits and one unearned run before John Gilligan recorded the final out of the eighth inning.

The Demons scored their final run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Ray Frias scored on an error by Lamar third baseman Darian Johnson.

Jacob Roark scattered six hits over seven innings to pick up the win for NSU and improve to 2-2 on the year. Roark struck out nine LU batters, while walking just one. Mason Melotakis worked the final two innings to earn his fifth save of the year.

Lamar missed an opportunity to jump out to a lead in the top of the first inning. Designated hitter Seth Dornak walked with one out and moved to second on a single through the right side by Johnson. However, Jeff Abt, who is just one for his last 15 at bats, lined into a double play to end the inning.

Abt led off the seventh with a double and advanced to third on a one-out single by Henk. Center fielder Garret Autrey struck out with runners on the corners and second baseman David Harris followed with a ground out to end the Cardinals' scoring threat.

Jude Vidrine and Brad Picha each picked up a pair of hits for the Cardinals.

The Demons got two hits and a run scored from Helenihi and Watson, while Purdy drove in the only earned run Northwestern State scored.

LAMAR