April 9, 2006

Box Score

ARLINGTON - Will Henderson went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and Derrick Gordon pitched well in relief as Lamar University rallied for an 8-5 win over Texas-Arlington Sunday afternoon in Southland Conference baseball action at Clay Gould Ballpark.

Lamar improved to 25-11 overall and 13-2 in SLC play. The Cardinals posted their third straight series sweep in conference action, which is the first time that's happed since the 1987 season. Lamar has won six straight games and 11 of its last 12 overall. Additionally, the Cardinals have won 10 straight in SLC play.

The Cardinals return home to host Sam Houston State in a three-game series at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The series has moved up a day and the Cardinals and Bearkats will play Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. Lamar will take Sunday off in observance of the Easter holiday.

Lamar struck first with a run in the top of the second inning. Will Henderson doubled to right field and moved to third on Matt Lambeth's bunt single. Jo Jo Haney drove in Henderson with a single to left field to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

UTA answered with three runs in the home half of the second inning. Danny Slinkman, Robby Winn and Kyle Rudy each singled to load the bases with one out. Brock Wilson singled to left field to drive in Slinkman. Justin Stevens drew a bases loaded walk to drive in Winn. Rudy scored the inning's third run on an RBI ground out by Daniel Rieder to give the Mavericks a 3-1 leads, which was their first of the weekend.

The Cardinals returned the favor with three runs in the top of the third inning to reclaim the lead at 4-3. Ryan Baker led off the inning with a walk and took third on Dan Hernandez' single to left center. Henderson drove in Baker with a single to right field.

C.J. Ebarb was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Lambeth hit a ground ball that Thad Ledford gloved down, but was charged with an error. Hernandez was able to score easily from third and that kept the bases loaded. Haney drove in Henderson with the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Mavericks tied the game at 4-4 with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Winn doubled to right center field with one out and scored on Rudy's single to left field.

Lamar took control of the game with three more runs in the top of the fourth inning, all coming with two outs. Hernandez started the two-out rally by getting hit by a pitch. Henderson singled to left field and Ebarb followed with an RBI double down the right field line to drive in Hernandez. Lambeth, who was 2-for-5 with three RBI, delivered a 2-run single to center to put the Cardinals up 7-4.

The Mavericks cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. Winn, who was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, led off the inning with a single to left field. Rudy, who was 4-for-4, reached on an infield single, but was erased as Wilson hit into a 6-4-3 double play. Steven drove in Winn with a double down the left field line to make the score 7-5.

Lamar got the run back in the top of the ninth inning. Henderson led off the inning with a single to left field and was lifted for pinch-runner Chad Barbre. Ebarb, who was 2-for-4, singled to left field. Barbre stole third base and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Colt Crawford to make the score 8-5.

The Cardinals pounded out 13 hits, including three doubles. It was the seventh straight game that Lamar has posted double-figure hit totals and 11 in the last 12 games.

Gordon (3-2) pitched five and two-third innings of relief, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Scott Meyer pitched the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit with one strikeout to earn his first save of the season.

UTA reliever Kyle Gainley (0-4) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one inning of relief. Starter Austin Bridges pitched the first three innings, allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts.