Ruckdad Posted May 24, 2007 Report Posted May 24, 2007 This is the hidden content, please Sign In or Sign Up NATCHITOCHES, La. - Senior Ryan Baker went 4-for-5 to lead the Cardinals' 17-hit attack as No. 2-seed Lamar University opened the 2007 Southland Conference Tournament with a 12-2 win over No. 5-seed McNeese State Wednesday evening at Brown-Stroud Field. Lamar improved to 34-23 overall and McNeese State dropped to 21-33 overall. The Cardinals will play the winner of Game 3 between No. 3-seed Texas State and No. 4-seed Sam Houston State Thursday at 7 p.m. Top-seeded Texas-San Antonio posted a 4-2 win over No. 6-seed Stephen F. Austin in the tournament's first game. "Our kids did a great job at the plate against a very good pitcher (Derek Blacksher)," said Lamar coach Jim Gilligan. "I thought the team appeared to have a little better focus today. Whenever (Erik) Kanaby hits a home run its cause for excitement. I thought Allen (Harrington) did a good job of pitching out of some trouble when he had to and pitched a great game. This was just a good total team win." Senior Erik Kanaby started the game in grand fashion with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his second home run of the season and his Lamar career. Kanaby finished the game going 2-for-3 with five runs scored and two RBI. He became the seventh Cardinal to score five runs in a game and the last player to achieve the milestone was Collin DeLome on April 22, 2005 against Northwestern State. McNeese battled back with a pair of runs in top of the third inning. Justin Beitzel reached on a two-base throwing error by second baseman Brian Lloyd to lead off the inning. Andy Riche', who went 3-for-3, followed with an RBI single up the middle to tie the game. David Leatherwood drew a walk and Shon Landry sacrificed both runners into scoring position. After Bryan Cartie was intentionally walked to load the bases, Joe Hulett drove in Riche' with a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Cowboys a 2-1 lead. The Cardinals responded with four runs in the home half of the third inning. Kanaby led off with a walk and Baker followed with a single to center field. Collin DeLome delivered a 3-run home run that hit off the scoreboard in right field, which was his 10th of the season. Dan Hernandez singled to center to left center field and advanced to second on a wild pitch by McNeese starter Derek Blacksher. Keith Towne drove in Hernandez with a single up the middle to give Lamar a 5-2 lead. Brian Lloyd led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk and Kanaby followed with a single to left center field and advanced to second on Riche's throw to third to get Lloyd. Baker singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Lloyd. DeLome drove in Kanaby with a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 7-2. The Cardinals added three more in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kanaby led off with his second walk of the game and advanced to second base on a wild pitch by reliever William Strong. Baker doubled to right center field to drive in Kanaby. DeLome followed with a single to center field to drive in Baker. Hernandez singled to left field to put runners on the corners. Pinch-hitter Jeff Vickers drove in DeLome on a fielder's choice ground out to put Lamar up 10-2. Lamar closed out the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Travis Dunson singled to left field and Lloyd singled to center to put runners on the corners. Kanaby drove in Dunson on a fielder's choice ground out and DeLome singled in Kanaby with the game-ending run. The game was stopped when the Cardinals scored their 12th run due to the 10-run rule. Harrington (9-4) tossed his second straight complete-game against McNeese State and his team-leading sixth of the season. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in seven innings pitched. Blacksher (4-6) suffered his second straight defeat at the hands of the Cardinals. He allowed seven runs on nine hits with two walks and three strikeouts in three innings of work. In addition to having four hits, Baker scored two runs and had two RBI. DeLome went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and five RBI. Hernandez went 3-for-4 and scored a run. The 12 runs are the most scored by Lamar in an SLC Tournament game. The Cardinals also scored 12 runs in beating Jacksonville (12-4) in the 1995 Sun Belt Conference championship game.
JMay Posted May 24, 2007 Report Posted May 24, 2007 Great way to start. They only had to use Harrington so the staff is in good shape too. Now to take care of business against a scrappy SHSU squad.
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