Feb. 17, 2006

Box Score

HOUSTON - No. 15-ranked Long Beach State pounded out 16 hits en route to an 11-6 win over Lamar University in Friday's first game of the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Rice University at Reckling Park.

Lamar dropped to 4-3 on the season and LBSU improved to 5-3. The Cardinals will play Oklahoma Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and the fourth-ranked Owls Sunday at 3:30 p.m. William Delage, who is 1-0 with a 3.38 ERA, is scheduled to start for Lamar. Steven Guerra (2-0, 1.64 ERA) is the Sooners probable starter.

LBSU started the scoring with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Evan Longoria hit the first pitch of the game from Allen Harrington over the wall in left center field. Danny Espinosa followed with a lined single to right field and moved to third on Sean Boatright's double down the left field line. Espinosa scored on an infield ground out by Tito Cruz.

Lamar cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the third inning. Erik Kanaby walked, took second on a passed ball and moved to third on a ground out by Collin Delome. Michael Ambort reached on an error by the pitcher, Jared Hughes, to drive in Kanaby.

The 49ers extended their lead to 4-1 with two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Chris Lopez and Cruz both singled. Scott Bradley, who was 4-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, doubled down the right field line to drive in both runners.

The Cardinals pulled to within a run, 4-3, with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Kanaby reached on a throwing error by Espinosa at shortstop to lead off the inning. DeLome singled to right field and Michael Ambort reached on an infield singled to load the bases. C.J. Ebarb drove in Kanaby with a fielder's choice and Baker reached on an error by Hughes that allowed DeLome to score.

LBSU pushed the lead back to three runs, 6-3, with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Bradley singled to center field and Jordan Struble walked. Robert Perry was hit by a pitched to load the bases. Chuck Sindlinger, who was 2-for-4 with two RBI, singled off pitcher Brian Needham's glove, which ended up in shallow left field, to drive in two runs.

Lamar again closed to within a run, 6-5, with two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Kanaby reached on a fielder's choice and DeLome hit a 2-run, opposite field home run over the wall in left center field. DeLome went 2-for-5 with two runs scored to extend his career-high hitting streak to 15 games.

The 49ers scored five times to put the game out of reach. Pinch-hitter Edgar Sedano tripled off the wall in straight away center field. After Cruz walked, Bradley and Struble delivered RBI singles and Perry had an RBI double to left field. Espinosa's 2-run double to left center capped the inning.

Ebarb closed out the scoring for Lamar with a solo home run to right center in the top of the ninth inning. Matt Lambeth went 3-for-4 to pace the Cardinals at the plate. Kanaby was 1-for-4 and scored three runs. Baker was 1-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to seven games.

Allen Harrington (0-2) started and took the loss for the Cardinals, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks in three innings pitched. Hughes (2-0) started and picked up the win for the 49ers, allowing five runs, two earned, on seven hits with one strikeout in six innings pitched.