March 28, 2008

Box Score

Starting pitchers Brian Sisk of Lamar and Jeremy Cloud of Central Arkansas did everything within their power to keep the opposition off the scoreboard as each allowed just five hits apiece over their combined 15 innings. Sisk fanned a season-high eight and Cloud set down four.

But it was a 2-0 fastball from Cloud on the inner-half to Cardinal first baseman Steven Tucker that made all the difference on Friday as the junior transfer knocked it off the right field foul pole to give Lamar a 1-0 victory at Vincent-Beck Stadium. It was second of the season with his first coming last Saturday in the third game of the Stephen F. Austin series as it gave the Cards a 6-4 lead in their 6-5 win.

Friday's homer was in the fourth inning and while Lamar managed just four baserunners the remainder of the game, Sisk kept the Bears off balance in eight full innings to maintain the LU lead.

His only true jam came in the seventh when UCA loaded the bases with two outs following a fielder's choice, single and walk. The senior came through and got designated hitter Richey Irvin to ground out and squelch the threat. In fact, before those five total batters reached in the seventh, he had allowed just two hits and faced one over the minimum.

Sisk (5-1) was on the mound for 24 outs and recorded 14 of the 15 balls put in play on the ground. Tim Erickson came on in the ninth and needed just six pitches to record his sixth save of the season.

Each team had six hits with Lamar's Travis Dunson posting the only multi-hit performance, going 2-for-3.

Cloud (0-2) suffered the loss in his third start of the year while going a season-best seven innings.

Lamar improves to 16-8 overall and 6-1 in the Southland Conference, while UCA moves to 12-13 and 2-5.

The teams will play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday at 2 p.m. Central time.