Feb. 21, 2009

Game One Recap

Lamar pushed a run across in each of the first three innings before claiming a 4-1 win in the first game.

Tyler Link opened the game for the Cardinals by working a full count walk. He advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt by Austin Peay starter Stephen Huff. After moving to third on a sac bunt, he came home on a wild pitch to give Lamar a 1-0 lead.

Lamar added a run in the second with two outs when Chris Dunkin singled and worked his way around the diamond via a wild pitch, a steal of third and came home on fielding error by Greg Bachman of a Ryan Saldivar ground ball.

Link scored the third run when he led off the third with another full count walk and scored six pitches later when Quentin Luquette doubled down the right field line.

Austin Peay scored an unearned run in the sixth.

The Cardinals added a run in the seventh thanks to a pair of balk calls on reliever Jeremy Dobbs. The second came with the bases loaded and two outs which allowed Link to score for the third time in the contest.

Game two Recap

Lamar's offense came alive in the second game of the twinbill, pounding out 19 hits and scoring 16 runs.

The Cardinals broke through in the third inning with three runs on four hits. Tyler Link doubled off the center field wall to score Brent Harris, who started the rally with a double. Jeremiah Sammy scored on a bloop single by Brian Taylor. Link came home on a bases loaded sacrifice fly by Joey Latulippe.

Austin Peay got right back in it with an RBI triple by Matt Kole and a single through the left side by Brooks Hunton.

Lamar regained one of the runs when Link singled home Wade Mathis from second in the fourth inning, which also chased starter Ryan Mantooth from the game.

Chris Dunkin connected for his first home run of the season with a 2-run shot to left-center in the fifth to extend the Cardinal lead to 6-2.

Brian Taylor drove in Jeremiah Sammy who led off the inning with a double to right field. Taylor came home three batters later on Quentin Luquette's single through the right side.

Lamar broke the game wide open with eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Steven Tucker led off the frame with a double to straight away center field. Joey Latiluppe followed with a single to left and Luquette drove in Tucker with a single right. Link, who was 4-for-4 with six RBI, delivered the big blow with a grand slam home run to center field.

Matison Smith (1-0) earned the win after striking out six while allowing two runs on four hits in six-plus innings.