BEAUMONT, Texas - Saturday's doubleheader between Lamar University and the University of the Pacific would follow a similar pattern. It was two great starting pitching performances plus LU's ability to scratch across runs that helped complete the sweep of the series against the Tigers.
Throughout the series, the Cardinals conceded only two runs and each of their starters combined for 21.0 innings and 21 strikeouts while the bullpen allowed three hits in six innings of work. Because of the performance, the Cardinals are now 15-4 overall.
Game 1 was a game for River Orsak as he collected three hits including a three-run homer for the Cardinals. Zak Skinner posted two hits with one being a double while last night's hero Austin Roccaforte and Weston Peninger each drove in sac fly RBIs. Starting pitcher Jacob Ellis went 7.0 innings allowing a run on three hits while striking out four batters. Andres Perez posted his third save of the season allowing one hit and posting three strikeouts.
Game 2 resulted in a 3-0 shutout win as Hunter Hesseltine allowed three hits and struck out seven while Jackson Cleveland recorded the final two innings allowing one hit and striking out one. Four Cardinal hitters - Brayden Evans Skinner, Jack Shell, and Tanner Wilson each collected two hits with Skinner driving in one RBI along with Ethan Ruiz.
Game 1 : LU 5, Pacific 1
Four innings of scoreless ball went by as Ellis retired the first 10 Tiger batters he faced before allowing a hit. LU broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning as Dodge and Evans singled with two outs before Orsak went deep to left for a 3-0 lead. In the sixth inning, Schell came in to pinch hit and doubled to right. After advancing to third on a sac bunt, he came into score on a Weston Peninger sac fly.
Pacific got on the board in the seventh on an RBI double by Kaden Petersen. But the Cardinals answered back with a run on a sac fly by Roccaforte in the eighth. Perez had come into a save situation and put the Tigers away.
Game 2: LU 3, Pacific 0
The Cardinals started the scoring in the first inning with RBI singles from Skinner and Ruiz. The Tigers threatened in the top of the third inning by loading the bases before Hesseltine struck out Petersen to end the threat. In the fifth, Skinner doubled to leadoff the inning before scoring on two wild pitches to stretch the lead to 3-0.
The Tigers looked to get a rally started in the eighth inning on a leadoff single by Tony Otis. However, that ended quickly when Cleveland picked Otis off at first. Cleveland then set down the remaining five batters in order to complete the save.
Conference play opens next Friday for the Cardinals as they will hit the road on I-10 to Houston to meet with the Houston Christian Huskies. The first pitch of the series will be at 2:00 PM.
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