Feb. 13, 2006

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Collin Delome, Ryan Baker and C.J. Ebarb each drove in three runs and starter Derrick Gordon held the Broncs in check for four innings to help Lamar complete the three-game sweep of Texas-Pan American with an 11-3 win Monday afternoon at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Lamar, who has won four straight games, improved to 4-2 on the season. UTPA dropped to 3-5. The Cardinals travel to Houston this weekend for the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Rice University at Reckling Park. Lamar will face No. 15-ranked Long Beach State Friday at 1 p.m., Oklahoma Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and host and No. 4-ranked Rice Sunday at 3:30 p.m.

Lamar started the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. Colt Crawford doubled to left center. Jo Jo Haney reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners and DeLome cleared the bases with a 2-run double to left field to put the Cardinals up 2-0.

UTPA cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Dan Calabro walked and Chris Lozano singled down the right field line to put runners on the corners. Brian Needham was brought on in relief of Cody Williams and struck out pinch-hitter Cesar Pena, but Calabro scored on a wild pitch.

Lamar responded with the runs in the home half of the fifth inning. Michael Ambort singled up the middle and Baker singled to left field. Ebarb followed with a 3-run home run to right field to put the Cardinals up 5-1. It was his second 3-run home run in as many days.

The Cardinals tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning. Pinch-hitter Erik Kanaby walked, stole second and advanced to third on a balk by reliever Kelly Casares. Jo Jo Haney walked and DeLome followed with a fielder's choice, driving in Kanaby.

Ambort doubled down the right field line to drive in DeLome. Baker drove in Ambort with a single up the middle to extend Lamar's lead to 8-1.

The Broncs struck for a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Cesar Pena singled and pinch-hitter Osiel Flores doubled to left. Louie Alamia walked to load the bases. Pinch-hitter Lyndon Bartosh singled to left field to drive in Pena. Otis Powers drew a bases loaded walk to drive in another run to make the score 8-3.

Lamar closed out the scoring with three runs in the home half of the eighth inning. DeLome walked and Ambort, who was 4-for-5 with two runs scored, singled to left field and was lifted for pinch-runner Matt Wilson. After both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch, Baker delivered a 2-run single up the middle.

Ebarb singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Colt Crawford, who was 3-for-4, followed with a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Baker.

Gordon (1-0) pitched the first four innings for the Cardinals, allowing no runs on one hit with five strikeouts and no walks. Chuckie Platt, who entered the game with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the eighth inning, pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to record his first save of the season.

DeLome went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Baker was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI. Ebarb was 2-for-5. Lamar pounded out 16 hits off Bronc pitching.

UTPA starter Aaron Guerra (1-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and three walks in five innings pitched.