Lamar's Rally Falls Short at Northwestern State, 5-4 :: The Cardinals travel to Houston Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game at No. 1-ranked Rice.

The Cardinals travel to Houston Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game at No. 1-ranked Rice.

May 7, 2006

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Senior Will Henderson provided a first-inning 3-run home run, but the Cardinals offense could muster just one more run the rest of the game at Northwestern State held on for a 5-4 win over Lamar University Sunday afternoon in Southland Conference baseball action at Brown-Stroud Field to complete the three-game sweep.

Lamar dropped to 31-18 overall and 18-9 in SLC play. Northwestern State improved to 27-22 overall and 13-11 in SLC play. This was the first time the Cardinals have been swept in an SLC series since the 2001 season, when Northwestern State won all three games in Beaumont.

The Cardinals travel to Houston Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against No. 1-ranked Rice at Reckling Park. Lamar returns home Friday for its final non-conference game of the season with a 6:30 p.m. game against Prairie View A&M.

Erik Kanaby led off the game with a single to center field and Jo Jo Haney drew a walk. A Collin DeLome ground out moved both runners into scoring position. After Dan Hernandez struck out, Henderson blasted a 3-run home run to center field to give the Cardinals a quick 3-0 lead.

That lead was short-lived as the Demons would answer in the home half of the first inning. Michael Palermo singled to left field to start the inning. Marty Dewees and Brandon Morgan both drew walks to load the bases. Miles Durham followed with a grand slam home run to left center field to put Northwestern State up for good at 4-3.

The score remained 4-3 until the Demons pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh inning. Palermo, who was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, singled to left field. Morgan walked with one out to move Palermo to second. Bobby Barbier delivered a two-out single to center field to drive in Palermo and extend the Demons lead to 5-3.

The Cardinals answered with a run in the top of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter Andrew Leal led off the inning with a single to right field. Pinch-runner Matt Gore advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Kyle Broughton.

Lamar threatened in the ninth inning. Ryan Baker drew a lead-off walk and was sacrificed to second by Colt Crawford. Erik Kanaby walked to put runners on first and second. Haney grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Steve Macfarland (6-4) started, but did not retire a batter for the Cardinals. He allowed four runs on three hits with three walks. Sophomore Tim Erickson came in and held the Demons in check, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings pitched.

NWLA starter Drew Brown (5-5) picked up the win. He allowed four runs on five hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings pitched. Broughton pitched the final 1 2/3 innings, allowing no runs or hits with two walks to earn his second save of the season.