BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University has advanced to the final game of the Southland Conference tournament's Beaumont regional bracket.
The Cardinals recorded an 8-0 shutout of No. 6 seed Northwestern State before defeating No. 7 seed Stephen F. Austin, 4-2, Saturday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium to extend their winning streak to three.
LU will face Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 17. The winner advances to next week's Southland Conference tournament championship series.
GAME 5 VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE
Jarret Williams tossed a three-hit shutout over 5.1 innings, striking out five. He carried a no-hitter into the fourth inning and retired nine straight at one point.
LU's bullpen limited the opposition to one hit, issuing one walk and striking out four.
The Cardinals struck in the first on a two-out RBI single to right by
Brayden Evans.
Beau Durbin extended the lead to 3-0 in the second with a two-out, two-run double to left.
LU loaded the bases in the fourth after a leadoff single by
Braden Benton, a walk to
Tab Tracy and a hit by pitch to Durbin.
Lane Sparks delivered a sacrifice fly to right, and Tracy later scored on a throwing error by the right fielder.
The Cardinals added on in the eighth with three consecutive one-out singles, including an RBI single through the left side by
Balin Valentine.
Evans followed with an RBI single to right to make it 7-0.
Tracy capped the scoring in the ninth with a sacrifice fly to right that plated
Jake Wagoner.
GAME NOTES
- The Cardinals out hit SFA, 13-4.
- Durbin went 3 for 3 with two singles, a double, a walk and two RBIs.
- Wagoner recorded three singles to finish 3 for 5 with two runs scored.
- Tracy finished 2 for 3 with two singles, a walk and an RBI.
- Evans had two singles to go 2 for 5 with two RBIs.
- A.J. Taylor finished 1 for 5 with a single.
- Benton went 1 for 2 with a single.
- Valentine came off the bench going 1 for 2 with a single, walk and an RBI.
- Williams improves to 2-3 on the year. This is the seventh appearance this season he doesn't allow an earned run.
- Blayne Fritcher struck out three batters in 1.2 shutout innings.
- Ethan Oceguera allowed one hit in two innings of relief with one strikeout.
GAME 6 VS. SFA
The Cardinals struck first on an RBI single through the right side by
Hector Rodriguez.
Taylor led off with a two-out single to right-center, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by the catcher to set up the run.
SFA answered in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Mark Henning led off with a double, followed by three consecutive walks. Cooper Schneider added an RBI sacrifice bunt.
LU tied the game in the third on an RBI single to left by Rodriguez.
The Cardinals regained the lead in the fourth on a two-out RBI single through the left side by Valentine.
In the ninth, LU loaded the bases on two infield singles by Wagoner and
Kevin Duran and a walk to Valentine. Tracy made it 4-2 with an RBI infield single toward second.
Cooper Carlgren retired eight consecutive batters at one point and struck out four over 7.2 innings.
RECORDS: LU (31-25); SFA (29-26)
GAME NOTES
- Tracy went 2 for 5 with two singles and an RBI. Tracy now has 70 hits this season while he extended his hitting streak to four games, posting six hits during the span.
- Rodriguez had two singles to go 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
- Taylor finished 1 for 4 with a single and a stolen base.
- Wagoner was walked twice to go 1 for 2 with a single and a stolen base. Wagoner extended his on-base streak to eight games while he has five hits in his last three games.
- Evans went 1 for 4 with a single and a stolen base.
- Valentine finished 1 for 3 with a single, walk and an RBI.
- Duran added the ninth hit for the offense going 1 for 2 with a single.
- Julius Carpio earned his team-leading fourth save after throwing 1.1 shutout innings allowing one hit.
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