Lamar Drops Finale To Texas State, 8-1 :: Redbirds host Houston on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

April 27, 2008

SAN MARCOS, Texas - Lamar was unable to pull off a sweep of Texas State as the Bobcats scored the first eight runs in an 8-1 win at Bobcat Field Sunday.

Lamar is now 26-17 overall and 14-7 in Southland Conference play, and a half-game behind Northwestern State for the lead in the SLC's East Division. Texas State improves to 28-14 and 14-7.

Six Cardinal pitchers couldn't keep the Bobcats off the bases as Texas State reached base 18 times via 12 hits and six walks. Lamar stranded seven runners to Texas State's eight.

Texas State scored single runs in the first, second and sixth innings, two in the fifth and three in the eighth.

Steven Tucker went 2-for-4 with a single and a double to lead the Lamar offense. Nik Gumeson drove in the lone LU run with a single in the ninth after Chris Dunkin walked and Travis Dunson doubled to lead off the inning.

Zack Tritz (8-1) struck out four and scattered eight hits in earning the win for the Bobcats.

Lamar starter Ryne Nelson (2-1) suffered the loss after facing just two batters. He walked the first batter and allowed a single to Elliott Babcock that put runners at the corners. Matt Gore came on in relief and lasted three innings - the longest of any of the LU hurlers - and was charged with one run on four hits.

Lamar will return home for a four-game homestand, beginning Tuesday against Houston (26-17). First pitch at Vincent-Beck Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. The Cardinals will play host to Southeastern Louisiana in a weekend series with Friday's lid-lifter starting at 6:30 p.m.