April 19, 2007

Lamar Baseball Game Notes vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
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BEAUMONT - After sweeping a three-game series at Sam Houston State last weekend, the Lamar University baseball team will be looking to continue that momentum as the Cardinals host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Southland Conference play this weekend at Vincent-Beck Stadium beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.

Lamar is 25-15 overall and 12-3 in SLC play. The Cardinals lead the SLC East Division standings by 2 ½ games over McNeese State (9-5) and trail only Texas-San Antonio (13-2), who leads the SLC West, in the overall SLC standings. Lamar has won four of its last five games.

TAMU-Corpus Christi is 22-18 overall and 7-8 in SLC play. The Islanders lost two of three at home to Stephen F. Austin last weekend and is coming off a 10-2 win over Texas A&M-International on Tuesday. TAMU-Corpus Christi has won six of its last nine games.

The Cardinals and Islanders played four times during the 2005 season with the Lamar sweeping a doubleheader in Beaumont (7-2, 4-3) and splitting a doubleheader in Corpus Christi (2-3, 11-6). Lamar holds a 14-3 all-time series advantage.

Junior Allen Harrington is expected to make his 11th start of the season in Friday's game for the Cardinals. He is 5-3 with a 5.05 earned run average with 60 strikeouts and 19 walks in 62.1 innings pitched, and is limiting opponents to a .269 batting average. Will Norman, who is 4-4 with a 4.79 ERA, is TAMU-CC's probable starter.

Senior Erik Kanaby leads the team and the SLC in hitting with a .427 batting average with 46 runs scored, 12 doubles and 14 runs batted in. He has walked 28 times and leads the SLC with a .514 on-base percentage. He has hit safely in 36 of 38 games played this season.

Junior Michael Ambort is hitting .390 with 36 runs scored, 15 doubles, 10 home runs and a team-leading 53 RBI. He leads the team and ranks third in the SLC with a .682 slugging percentage. Junior Collin DeLome is batting .368 with an SLC-leading 51 runs scored, 10 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs and 43 RBI.

As a team, Lamar is hitting .323 as a team with 292 runs scored (7.30 per game), 459 hits (11.47), 94 doubles (2.35), 13 triples and 37 home runs (0.93). Lamar has posted double-digit hit totals in 28 of 40 games this season. The pitching staff has a 5.16 team ERA with 288 strikeouts (7.50 per 9 IP) and 160 walks in 345.2 IP, and is limiting opponents to a .280 batting average.

Jason Graham leads TAMU-Corpus Christi in hitting with a .411 batting average with 29 run scored, 12 doubles, two home runs and a team-leading 36 RBI. Chase Williams is hitting .361 with 27 run scored, five doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI. Bryan Gerondale is bating .325 with 30 runs scored, 11 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI.

As a team, TAMU-CC is hitting .324 (1st in SLC) with 293 runs scored (7.33), 450 hits (11.25), 77 doubles (1.93), seven triples and 34 home runs. The pitching staff has a 4.60 team ERA with 265 strikeouts and 163 walks in 338.2 IP, and is limiting opponents to a .269 batting average.