May 25, 2006

Box Score

BEAUMONT - Matt Lambeth led off the bottom of the ninth inning and scored on Jo Jo Haney drove him in with a sacrifice fly to give Lamar University a 7-6 win over Texas State Thursday night on Day 2 of the 2006 Southland Conference Tournament at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Lamar improved to 35-21 overall and Texas State dropped to 29-29 overall. The Cardinals will play the winner of the Northwestern State vs. Texas State game Friday night at 7 p.m. If Lamar wins that game, the Cardinals would advance to Saturday's 1 p.m. championship game and would have to be beaten twice not to gain the league's automatic bid to an NCAA Regional.

Lambeth, who was 2-for-5, doubled to the gap in left center field to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning. Ryan Baker grounded out softly to shortstop, which allowed Lambeth to advance to third base. Haney, who fouled off five pitches with a 3-2 count before finally hitting a fly ball that right fielder Luke Cannon made a good catch on in right center, but he was unable to get enough on the throw to get Lambeth at the plate.

Allen Harrington (3-3) pitched the final five innings of relief to get the win for the Cardinals, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. Steve Macfarland started and allowed four runs on six hits with two walks in four innings pitched.

Justin Fiske (2-7), the fifth Texas State pitcher of the game, allowed one run on one hit with no walks and three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings to take the loss. Starter Dan Donaldson recorded just two outs in the top of the first inning before getting pulled after allowing three runs on two hits with four walks.

The Bobcats scored in the top of the first inning. Cassidy Dresch drew a leadoff walk, Cannon was hit by a pitch and Cody Merrell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. David Wood drove in Dresch with the game's first run on a ground out to second base.

The Cardinals scored three times in the home half of the first inning. Walks to Erik Kanaby, Colt Crawford and Collin Delome loaded the bases with no outs. Will Henderson, who was 3-for-5 with two RBI, drove in Kanaby with a fielder's choice and Crawford was able to score on the play as well on a throwing error by shortstop Thomas Field. Lambeth singled in Henderson to put the Cardinals up 3-1.

Lamar scored single runs in the second and third innings. Kanaby reached on an infield single to lead off the second inning and scored on Henderson's double to left field.

Texas State trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the top of the third inning. Kyle Jones singled up the middle and Cannon followed with a 2-run home run to right field, his 18th of the season.

Dan Hernandez, who was 2-for-5, led off the third inning with a single and scored on Haney's RBI triple to right center field to put Lamar up 5-3.

The two teams exchanged single runs in the fourth inning. Field singled with two outs, stole second base and scored on Kyle Jones' RBI single to center field.

Lamar responded in the bottom of the fourth. After Crawford and Henderson both singled, C.J. Ebarb drove in Crawford with a singled to right field to put Lamar up 6-4.

The Bobcats tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the seventh inning. Wood hit into a fielder's choice, beating the throw to first base on a double-play attempt. Aaron Garza followed with a 2-run home run to left field to tie the game.

Lamar pounded out 14 hits, including two doubles and a triple. The Cardinals also drew six walks. Texas State had 11 hits, including a double and two home runs. The Bobcats drew three walks and had three hit by pitches.