Lamar Drops Game Three at SE Louisiana, 8-4; Loses Two of Three in Weekend Series :: The Cardinals return home to host Northwestern State in a three-game series at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The Cardinals return home to host Northwestern State in a three-game series at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

May 6, 2007

HAMMOND, La. - Michael Ambort and Travis Dunson each hit home runs for the Cardinals, but it was not enough as Southeastern Louisiana held off Lamar University for an 8-4 win Sunday afternoon in game three of a Southland Conference three-game series at Alumni Field.

Lamar, who lost two of three this weekend, dropped to 30-20 overall and 17-7 in SLC play. SLU improved to 31-18 overall and 13-11 in SLC play. The Cardinals' lead in the SLC East Division was trimmed to 1 ½ games as McNeese State (15-8) swept a three-game series from visiting Central Arkansas. Lamar returns home to host Northwestern State in a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Ambort gave the Cardinals a quick 1-0 lead with a two-out, solo home run to left field in the top of the first inning. It was his 11th homer of the season and 38th of his career.

SLU responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Ty Summerlin singled to right field with one out. Richard Imhoff and Chase Burch both walked on four pitches, and Justin Walker was brought on in relief of LU starter Brian Needham.

Dillon Sudduth drove in Summerlin when he reached on a fielding error by shortstop Brian Lloyd. Matthew Schexnayder delivered the big blow, a 2-run single to center field to put SLU up for good at 3-1.

The Cardinals pulled to within a run, 3-2, on Travis Dunson's two-out, solo home run to left center field in the second inning. That was Dunson's fourth home run of the season.

The Lions pushed the lead to 4-2 win a run in the bottom of the third. Sudduth led off with a double down the left field line and scored on Page Booker's two-out, RBI single to right field.

Scott Viator, who was 2-for-3, doubled off the wall down the left field line in the sixth inning. Summerlin reached on a fielder's choice after Bryan Frichter walked to put runners on the corners. The Lions executed a double steal with Viator stealing home to give SLU a 5-2 lead.

The Cardinals took advantage of some rare sloppy fielding by the Lions in the top of the seventh inning to pull within a run. David Moore reached on an error by SLU starting pitcher Rene LeBlanc on a little dribbler back to the mound with two outs.

Dunson, who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, followed with a single to left field. Lloyd hit a fly ball that sent Booker to the warning track in right field. Booker dropped the ball on the warning track, which allowed both Moore and Dunson to score on the play and make the score 5-4.

SLU put the game away with a run in the home half of the seventh inning and two more in the bottom of the eighth. Burch singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch by reliever Jason Stutes in the seventh inning.

In the eighth, Viator walked and Summerlin, who was 3-for-5, singled to left field. Burch, who was 3-for-4, delivered a two-out, 2-run double to left center field to put the Lions up 8-4.

Jeff Vickers led off the top of the ninth inning with an infield single for the Cardinals. After Moore lined out to center field, Dunson hit into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play. It was the third double play turned in the game by SLU and ninth in the three-game series.

Sophomore Brian Needham (5-5) started for Lamar, but lasted just one-third of an inning in taking the loss. He allowed three runs, one earned, on one hit with two walks.

LeBlanc (2-0) started and picked up the win for SLU. He allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts in six and two-third innings pitched. Chris Province pitched the final two innings for his seventh save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit with one strikeout.