BEAUMONT, Texas (2-29-2008) ? Arkansas State saw its four-game win streak snapped Friday night as the Indians suffered a 10-3 loss to the Lamar Cardinals in its second day of play at the Cardinal Classic at Vincent-Beck Stadium. On a tough night for the Indians, the Tribe was out-hit 10-7 by Lamar, committed three errors, and gave up seven of the 10 runs with two outs on the board.
“We didn't play as well tonight as we have been playing,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “But it's a long season and there are going to be nights when you don't play well. This was our first true road game and Lamar just played better than we did. We've got to be better than we were tonight, and we will.”
“We're going to be fine,” added Kessinger. “It was not a good night, but we have seen what we can be when we are focused and play well, so hopefully we will learn from tonight.”
Lamar plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning, getting a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Jeff Vickers to score leadoff man Anthony Moore. An RBI single from first baseman Chris Dunkin brought home the second run for the quick 2-0 lead.
The Tribe countered with a run in the top of the second to cut the Cardinal lead in half. Senior shortstop Ryan Hudgins singled to shallow right field to lead off the inning, stole second, advanced to third on a ground-out from third baseman Guy Brown, and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman first baseman Drew Benes.
Lamar picked up four runs in the fourth, three unearned, to stretch its lead to 6-1. Right fielder Steven Tucker delivered a one-out RBI single for the first run of the inning and Moore reached on a two-out error, scoring third baseman Nik Gumeson to put the Cardinals up 4-1. Lamar's final two runs of the inning scored when left fielder Tyler Link hit into deep left field for a two-run double.
The Cards added two more runs with two outs in the sixth, taking advantage of a hit batter and a walk - both with the bases loaded, to bump the Cardinal lead to 8-1, but the Indians got the runs back in the top of the seventh, taking advantage of a pair of singles and a Lamar pitching miscue.
Freshman Drew Benes led off the seventh for Arkansas State with a single, followed by a single from Cody Pace that advanced Benes to third. After Pace stole second, Lamar reliever Jay Prigmore was wild on a pitch, allowing both Benes and Pace to score and cut the Cardinal lead to 8-3.
A two-run, two-out triple from Moore in the bottom of the seventh pushed the Lamar back to seven runs and set the final at 10-3.
Senior Joel Boeschen (1-1) took the loss on the mound for Arkansas State, giving up six runs (three unearned) on six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts while working four innings. Matt Morgal (1-0) earned the win for Lamar, giving up three runs on five hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.
Coleman and Hudgins led ASU at the plate, both going 2-for-4 while Benes, Pace and Brown all added one hit.
The Indians will resume play in Beaumont Saturday at 5:00 p.m., taking on the Spartans of Michigan State (2-3) in day three of the Cardinal Classic.
