KFDM COOP Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 McNeese baffles Lamar pitching again Lamar SID Office The Orange Leader LAKE CHARLES — Nederland HS alum Ryan Brauninger hit two home runs, including a two-run shot in the seventh that gave McNeese just enough of a cushion to hold off Lamar 10-9 at Cowboy Diamond Wednesday night. Lamar took a 5-3 lead in the fifth but saw McNeese answer with five runs of its own for a 8-5 advantage. The Cardinals scored single runs in the sixth and seventh to trim the margin to one run before Brauninger’s homer gave the Cowboys a much-needed three-run cushion at 10-7. Lamar plated single runs in the eighth and ninth but never could retake the lead in dropping its fourth-consecutive game. Brian Taylor led Lamar (23-15) with two hits and three RBIs, all of which came on his home run in the fifth. Chris Dunkin had a pair of hits and an RBI for the Cards. Cory Holley suffered his first loss in his first decision after allowing three unearned runs on three hits over 1 2/3 innings. McNeese State (17-16) didn’t receive any hits from its top three batters but instead got three from Brauninger, to go along with five RBIs, and two apiece from Taylor Freeman and Nick Eubanks. Travis Bailey was credited with his first win in his first decision, facing just five batters in one inning of work. Tommy Luce earned his second save with three strikeouts in the ninth after replacing Ryan Frantz, another former Bulldog. The Cowboys got on the board with two in first before Brauninger hit a home run to left center to open the second and give McNeese a 3-0 lead but the Cardinals got it right back in the next frame when Steven Tucker crushed a ball over the second wall in left center for his fourth homer of the season. Lamar charged right back in the fifth with four runs on two hits, including a 3-run blast by Brian Taylor that put the Cards back in front, 5-3. The inning was almost for naught but an error on what appeared to be an inning-ending double play to Anthony Moore allowed the inning to continue. McNeese got a gift in the next inning when runs scored from second and third on a Sam Merrill ground ball to short that V.J. Bunner missed when he got screened and the ball went into the outfield. Merrill scored on a ground ball two batters later to give the Cowboys the lead back, 6-5. Two more runs scored on Brauninger’s slow roller in the hole between first and second to end the scoring with McNeese forging an 8-5 advantage. Brent Harris hit a 3-2 fastball into the corner in right to score Jeremiah Sammy in the sixth to cut the deficit to 8-6. Dunkin then greeted Frantz in the seventh with a double into the corner in left that scored Link to make it 8-7 McNeese. Brauninger then opened the home half of the seventh with a a home run over the scoreboard in left center to get two runs back for a 10-7 lead. Jeremiah Sammy answered Brauninger’s shot with one of his own when he got all of a Frantz fastball to lead off the top of the eighth with his fifth long ball this year. Lamar added a run in the ninth but stranded runners at second and third with one out when Saldivar and Sammy struck out swinging to end the game. The taxing game saw 13 pitchers – seven by Lamar – give up six home runs and 19 hits. Lamar will continue its five-game road trip at SLC foe UTSA (19-17, 9-9 SLC) this weekend at Roadrunner Field on the UTSA campus. Friday’s game is at 6 p.m., Saturday’s is at 2 p.m. and Sunday’s is at 1 p.m.
Guest abovetherim Posted April 16, 2009 Report Posted April 16, 2009 Thankfully, this wasn't a SLC series. :
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