March 18, 2007

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Jason Stutes tossed a two-hit, complete-game shutout as Lamar University blanked Texas-Arlington, 5-0, to complete the three-game sweep Sunday in Southland Conference baseball action at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Lamar improved to 15-8 overall and 3-0 in SLC play. UTA dropped to 9-14 overall and 0-3 in SLC play. This Cardinals second straight season sweep of the Mavericks as Lamar swept the three-game series at UTA last season.

The Cardinals hit the road for five straight games beginning with Tuesday's 6 p.m. game at Texas-San Antonio, which will not count toward the conference standings. The Cardinals and Roadrunners will also play Wednesday at 3 p.m. Lamar travels to Nacogdoches next weekend for a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin.

Stutes, making his third start of the season, allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Because the Cardinals' defense turned in two double plays, he faced just one batter over the minimum. No UTA runner made it as far as third base. Kyle Rudy singled to start the third inning, but was erased by a double play. Collin Garner doubled to left center field, but was thrown out trying to make it a triple.

For the weekend, Lamar limited UTA to just four runs for a 1.33 earned run average, and limited the Mavs to a .189 batting average. Defensively, Lamar made just one error and turned seven double plays in the three-game sweep to open SLC play.

The Cardinals plated three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a quick 3-0 lead. Brian Lloyd led off the inning with a single to center field and scored on David Moore's double to left field. Travis Dunson delivered a 2-run home run to left field, which was his first of the season.

Lamar added a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Keith Towne singled to lead off the inning and was lifted for pinch-runner Tylor Prudhomme. DeLome tripled into the left field corner to drive in Prudhomme.

That was the 19th triple of DeLome's career, which is a new SLC career record. Greg Gravois of Nicholls State (1991-94) held the record with 18 career three-baggers. Ambort reached on an error by Kyle Rudy at shortstop that also allowed DeLome to score an extend Lamar's lead to 5-0.

About the only dim spot for the Cardinals was that lead-off hitter Erik Kanaby failed to get a hit for the first time all season. He went 0-for-4 at the plate, which ended his school-record hitting streak at 25 games.

Nathan Long (1-3) started and took the loss for UTA. He allowed five runs, four earned, on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts in four innings pitched. Kendal Carrillo pitched the final four innings, allowing no runs on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts.