April 1, 2006

Box Score

THIBODAUX, La. - Senior Matt Lambeth went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and senior William Delage turned in a solid outing on the mound to lead Lamar University an 8-4 win over Nicholls State Saturday afternoon in Southland Conference baseball action at Didier Field.

Lamar improved to 21-11 overall and 9-2 in SLC play. Nicholls State dropped to 9-21 overall and 2-9 in SLC play. The Cardinals will go for the series sweep today at 1 p.m.

Trialing 2-1, Lamar took control of the game with three runs in the top of the fourth inning. Lambeth led off the inning with a triple to straight away center field and scored on C.J. Ebarb's single up the middle to tie the game at 2. Erik Kanaby delivered a 2-run single to right center to put Lamar up 4-2.

The Cardinals added two more in the fifth inning. Dan Hernandez singled to left field and pinch-hitter Cory Zimmerman walked. Ebarb walked with one out to load the bases. Jo Jo Haney singled to right field to drive in both Hernandez and Zimmerman and push Lamar's lead to 6-2.

The Colonels cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brett Maurin was hit by a pitch and Patrick Harris singled to center field. A throwing error by Delage allowed Thomas Bourne to reach first and load the bases. Jose Higuera drove in Maurin with a sacrifice fly to center field and make the score 6-3.

Lamar scored one run in the sixth and another in the eighth to extend its lead to 8-3. Kanaby, who was 2-for-6, reached on an infield single and stole second base. Hernandez, who was 3-for-5, drove in Kanaby with a single to left field.

In the eighth, Ryan Baker reached on a throwing error by Higuera at third base and DeLome followed with a single to center field. Zimmerman delivered a two-out RBI single to center to drive in Baker. Nicholls closed out the scoring on Michael Muscato's solo home run down the left field line in the top of the ninth inning to make the score 8-4.

Delage (6-2) pitched six and one-third innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Sophomore Allen Harrington worked the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

Nicholls starter Michael Bartek (2-2) took the loss for the Colonels, allowing six runs, four earned, on 10 hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Lamar pounded out 15 hits and has 28 through the first two games of the three-game series. Haney was 2-for-5 with two RBI and DeLome was 2-for-5.

Junior Derrick Gordon, who is 2-2 with a 4.71 earned run average, is expected to start on the mound for Lamar. Aaron George, who is 0-1 with a 4.67 ERA, is Nicholls' probable starter.