COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Lamar University fought hard and built a 5-0 lead through four innings Friday in Game 1 of the College Station Regional at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park.
No. 12 Texas A&M responded with seven runs over the final four innings to secure a 7-5 victory.
LU will face the loser of the Southern California–Texas State game at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30.
The Cardinals struck quickly in the top of the first.
Tab Tracy reached on an infield single and moved to second on a pitcher's throwing error.
A.J. Taylor followed with a one-out RBI single up the middle.
LU extended its lead to 3-0 with two runs in the top of the third inning.
Beau Durbin led off with a two-out single, and Taylor followed with an RBI double off the wall in left center.
Jake Wagoner added an RBI single to right to cap the rally.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 5-0 in the top of the fourth on solo home runs by
Braden Benton and
Kevin Duran to left center.
Texas A&M broke up the shutout with a pair of home runs in the fifth inning.
Gavin Grahovac hit a solo homer and Chris Hacopian followed with a two-run shot to left center.
Texas A&M tied the game in the seventh on a bases loaded walk by Nico Partida.
The Aggies took the lead in the eighth.
Ben Royo opened the inning with a double down the left field line, and Travis Chestnut's sacrifice bunt led to a throwing error that allowed Royo to score.
Hacopian capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to center.
GAME NOTES
- Chris Olivier tossed a four-hitter in six innings with five strikeouts.
- The LU offense had eight hits compared to Texas A&M's six.
- Taylor finished 2 for 4 with a single, double and two RBIs. Taylor extended his hitting streak to six games going 11 for 26 (.423) with three doubles and five RBIs.
- Tracy finished 1 for 4 with a single extending his hit streak to eight games. He has 11 hits during the span.
- Durbin went 1 for 4 with a single. Durbin has now reached base safely in his last 13 games while he rides a four-game hitting streak.
- Wagoner also finished 1 for 4 with a single and an RBI. He has a seven-game hitting streak with 14 hits during the span.
- Benton went 1 for 4 for a home run and an RBI. He hit his first home run since Feb. 21 at UT Arlington.
- Duran also had a home run to go 1 for 4 with an RBI. Duran ranks second on the team with six home runs.
- Balin Valentine also extended his hitting streak to seven games going 1 for 3 with a single. He has nine hits during the seven-game span.
- This was the 14th multi-home run game for the Cardinals, including their fifth in the month of May.
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