BEAUMONT, Texas – McNeese fell 5–0 to Lamar in game two of the Battle of the Border series on Saturday afternoon. The Cowboys move to 9–9 overall and 4–4 in conference play, while Lamar improves to 11–8 overall and 5–3 in league play.
The rubber match of the series is scheduled for Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Lamar struck first in the opening inning when Braden Benton lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Tab Tracy, giving the Cardinals an early 1–0 lead.
McNeese starter
Eric Nachtsheim settled in after the early run, holding Lamar scoreless in three of the next four innings. Nachtsheim finished the outing allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out six and walking four over his start. The loss marked his first of the season as he moved to 3–1 overall.
The Cardinals added to their lead in the fifth inning when AJ Taylor delivered a sacrifice fly to second base that brought home Lane Sparks to extend the advantage to 2–0.
Lamar broke the game open with two runs in the sixth inning. Sparks drove in a run with a single, and Balin Valentine followed with another RBI single to push the lead to 4–0.
The Cardinals added their final run in the eighth inning when Sparks recorded his third RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Ayden Sunday.
McNeese was led offensively by senior
Danny Barbero, who went 2-for-3 with a walk.
Matt Stancliff and Isiah Keller recorded the Cowboys' other two hits.
Paul Coppinger and
Adrian Najar combined to pitch the final 2.2 innings in relief for McNeese, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four.
Lamar starter Chris Olivier improved to 3–0 on the season after tossing 7.2 innings, allowing two hits while striking out 12 and walking two. Travis Lutz pitched the final 1.1 innings in relief, giving up two hits and recording one strikeout.
Pitchers of Record:
Winning Pitcher: Chris Olivier (3-0)
Losing Pitching:
Eric Nachtsheim (3-1)
How it happened:
B1 – Braden Benton hit a sac fly to left field to score Tab Tracy, LU 1-0
B5 – AJ Taylor hit a sac fly to second to score Lane Sparks, LU 2-0
B6 – Lane Sparks singled to first to score Hector Rodriguez, LU 3-0
B6 – Balin Valentine singled to short and scored Theo Kummer, LU 4-0
B8 – Lane Sparks hit a sac fly to center field to score Ayden Sunday, LU 5-0
Up Next
Mar. 15 at Lamar *
Mar. 18 vs Prairie View A&M
Mar. 20 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 21 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 22 vs Southeastern *
Mar. 24 vs Southern
Mar. 25 vs Louisiana Christian
Mar. 27 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 28 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 29 vs Abilene Christian
Mar. 31 vs UL-Lafayette
*Denotes Conference Game
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