April 4, 2005

PLANO - Sophomore catcher Michael Ambort was named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week on Monday, becoming the second Lamar University player to earn the honor this season. Bernard Robert of Southeastern Louisiana was named SLC Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season.

Ambort, who had missed 10 straight games behind the plate after bruising his knee cap in the second game of a doubleheader with No. 24-Michigan on March 12, returned to action behind the plate for Lamar's three-game sweep of Nicholls State. He had remained in the lineup for several games as the designated hitter.

In four games last week, Ambort hit .611 (11-for-18) with seven runs scored, a double, two home runs and five runs batted in. He posted a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .611 on-base percentage.

A native of Rockville Center, N.Y., Ambort went 4-for-5 with a run scored, double and RBI at No. 16-Texas A&M. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI in Lamar's 7-6 win over Nicholls State. He went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and a home run in Saturday's 13-2 win and helped close out the sweep by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI in Sunday's 9-0 shutout.

For the season, Ambort is second on the team with a .350 batting average and leads the team in runs scored (33), home runs (8), RBI (30) and slugging percentage (.670). He is second in doubles (9) and on-base percentage (.433).

Senior Adrian Cantu was the first Cardinal to earn SLC hitter of the week honors on Feb. 8. Senior Scott Vander Weg is Lamar's lone SLC pitcher of the Week nominee, earning the honor on March 8.

Lamar continues SLC play this weekend with a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe beginning with Friday's 6:30 p.m. game at Indian Field. The Cardinals and Indians will play Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Lamar took two of three from ULM in Beaumont last season and beat the Indians in the SLC tournament championship game.