April 6, 2013

Box Score

HAMMOND, La. – Despite pushing a pair of runs across in the top of the ninth on Saturday afternoon, the late rally ultimately proved fruitless as the Lamar baseball team lost 7-5 at Southeastern Louisiana.

With the loss, Lamar fell to 23-9 on the year with a 3-5 Southland Conference mark , and SLU improved to 7-1 in league play and 22-10 overall.

Offensively, Brad Picha led the way by going 2-for-4 with a score and three runs batted in, and Darian Johnson went 3-for-4. Sam Bumpers also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a pair of runs, and on the day the Cardinals out-hit the Lions 9-7.

Travis Moore got the start on the mound, but recorded just three outs and allowed three hits and a run. Brett Brown came on in relief and gave up a pair of unearned runs while striking out five. Six other Cards saw action on the mound, but Lance Warren was pegged with the loss after giving up a run and recording an out.

Tate Scioneaux tossed eight innings for the Lions and allowed five scores to earn his fourth win of the year, and Kyle Cedotal came on in the ninth to pick up his first save.

After giving up a run in the second, Lamar equalized in the fourth through Bumpers. The junior out of Illinois led off with a base hit, and back-to-back singles by Johnson and Picha brought him home.

The Lions bounced back for two more scores in the fifth, but once again, the Cards proved their mettle with two runs in the ensuing frame. Zach Luevanos and Bumpers singled to start the frame, and another Johnson base hit plated the first run. Picha hit into a fielder’s choice in the following at-bat to bring the game level at 3-3.

However, the deadlock proved to be short-lived as SLU pushed four across over the next three frames to take a 7-3 lead into the final inning.

The ninth started impressively for the Cards as Johnson and Picha led off with doubles to cut the deficit to three, and a V.J. Bunner walk and Seth Dornak single put the go-ahead run at the plate. It wasn’t to be, however, as Garret Autrey lined into a double play, bringing in a second run, and Luevanos struck out to end the game.

The two sides will return to action for a rubber game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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