Stephen F. Austin
Lamar
Lamar Takes Comeback Win In Series Opener
5/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 14, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Despite six strong innings from Erich Lehmann, Lamar rallied for six runs in the top of the seventh inning against the SFA bullpen to pull out a 9-3 win in the series opener on Thursday at Jaycees Field.
With the loss, SFA (22-29, 13-17 SLC) is locked into the No. 8 seed in the upcoming Southland Conference Tournament. Lamar (35-19, 19-12 SLC) has now won five straight meetings over the `Jacks.
Lehmann had won his last six starts and was in line for the win on Thursday, leaving after the sixth inning having scattered seven hits and allowing only one unearned run. He only walked one, while striking out a season-best eight batters.
The senior left after the sixth with the `Jacks up 3-1, but the Cardinals sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the seventh against relievers Alex Moshier and Chris Court. It was Brian Taylor singling to drive in the first run and pull Lamar back to within a run at 3-2 before Steven Tucker put the Cards ahead for good with a two-run double. Wade Mathis then opened it up with a three-run homer just three hitters later.
Lamar took the early lead with an unearned run in the top of the fourth, but the `Jacks responded with runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take the lead. Tanner Hines scored the first Lumberjack run, getting on base with an infield hit that extended his team-best hit streak to 17 games. He moved up to second on an error by Tucker when it seemed as though he had been picked off of first base, and then scored on an RBI single by Brian Ferguson.
Justin Long and Joe Staley got it started in the fifth for SFA with consecutive singles to open the inning, with each scoring on RBIs from Jeffrey Kello and Hines.
Taylor finished with a 4-for-4 afternoon for the Cardinals to pace the offense, while Tucker added four RBI. Seven of the eight starters for the `Jacks finished with at least one hit on the day, however SFA went without an extra-base hit for the second consecutive game.
SFA and Lamar play again on Friday starting at 2:00 p.m. with Jared West slated to go against Matison Smith.
-SFA-
