March 12, 2007

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Senior Erik Kanaby extended his current hitting streak to a record-tying 23 games, but Lamar University dropped both games of a doubleheader to Louisiana Tech by scores of 12-9 and 16-2 in non-conference baseball action at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Lamar, who swept a three-game series from visiting Northern Colorado over the weekend, dropped to 12-8 overall. Louisiana Tech, who lost two of three at Sam Houston State in a weekend series, improved to 17-11 overall. The Cardinals open Southland Conference play this weekend by hosting Texas-Arlington in a three-game series beginning with Friday's 6:30 p.m. game.

Lamar wasted little time in getting on the board in game two. Kanaby, who was 3-for-4, led off the bottom of the first with a single to left field, which extended his hitting streak to 23 games and tied Chad Bunting (1995-96) for the longest hitting streak in school history.

Collin DeLome was hit by a pitch and both runners moved up a base on a throwing error by starting pitcher Jamey Bradshaw. Keith Towne delivered a 2-run double to right center field to put Lamar up 2-0.

Albie Goulder singled to right field and Patrick Thomas singled to center field for the Bulldogs in the second inning. Nick Grunenwald sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Kevin Winn walked to load the bases and Drew Thomas drew an RBI walk to drive in Goulder and make the score 2-1.

The Bulldogs tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the fifth inning. Brandon Hudson, Brian Rike and Thomas all walked to load the bases and Hudson scored on a wild pitch by reliever Matt Gore.

Tech broke the game open with eight runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hudson and Goulder each had RBI singles for the Bulldogs. Cardinal pitchers walked in two runs, another scored on an error and another scored on a wild pitch to put Tech up 10-2.

Tech scored three more times in the seventh and eighth innings. Patrick Thomas had a 2-run triple off the wall in straight away center field and Grunenwald had an RBI single to center in the seventh inning. Rike had a 2-run double right center in the eighth inning.

Matt Gore (0-1) took the loss in relief for Lamar, allowing two runs on no with four walks and three strikeouts in one inning of work. Lamar used eight pitchers in game two and issued 16 walks while striking out 11. Tech struck out 10 Lamar hitters and didn't allow a walk.

Aaron Lorio (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Bulldogs. He allowed no runs on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Starter Jamey Bradshaw allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and two strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings.

In game 1, Lamar broke a scoreless tie with six runs in the bottom of the third inning. David Moore, Cody Morrison and Kanaby all singled to load the bases. DeLome cleared the bases with a grand slam home run to right field.

The Cardinals weren't finished as Ryan Baker, who was 2-for-4, singled to left field and scored on Keith Towne's double to left center. Brian Lloyd drove in Towne with a single to left field to give the Cardinals a 6-0 lead.

Tech responded with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6. Jericho Jones had an RBI groundout and Albie Goulder hit a 2-run home run down the right field line in the fourth inning.

In the fifth inning, Brandon Hudson, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI, had an RBI double to right center and Goulder delivered a 2-run single to right center field that tied the score at 6-6.

The Bulldogs took control of the game with five runs in the top of the sixth inning. Hudson had an RBI single to left and Chris Kersten had an RBI bunt single. After Brian Rike singled to right field to re-load the bases and Goulder, who was 3-for-4 with a career-high seven RBI, delivered a 3-run double to straight away center field to give Tech an 11-6 lead.

Moore, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, hit a solo home run to straight away center field for the Cardinals in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 11-7. Tech added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Hudson's sacrifice fly to left field, driving in Kevin Winn, who doubled down the right field line.

Lamar mounted a rally in the home half of the seventh inning. Baker singled to center field, pinch-hitter Jared Hill was hit by a pitch and Lloyd walked to load the bases. Moore was hit by a pitch to drive in Baker. Pinch-hitter Tylor Prudhomme followed with an RBI ground out. Kanaby walked to re-load the bases and DeLome, who came close to hitting his second grand slam of the game with a long foul ball down the right field line, flew out to left field to end the game.

Justin Walker (0-1), Lamar's third pitcher of the game, took the loss in relief. He allowed five runs, one earned, on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings pitched. Scott Meyer started and pitched the first 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

Andrew Alsup (4-0) picked up the win in relief for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings pitched.