April 17, 2004
Box Score
ARLINGTON, Texas - John Allen's RBI single in the top of the eighth inning served as the game winner as Lamar handed Texas-Arlington its fifth straight Saturday Southland Conferenence defeat 4-2 at Clay Gould Ballpark.
The Cardinals (27-10, 9-5) would do their damage with two outs against UTA closer Mike Snapp. With two outs and a runner on second, the Mavs intentionally walked the left-handed Ryan Finan to face the right-handed Allen, who in turn hit the game-winner through the left side. LU would push across a second run in the inning as Adrian Cantu singled to left center to score Finan before Allen was thrown out trying to advance to third.
LU jumped out of the gates with two runs in the first, but the damage could have been a lot more. With one out, Jeremy Gray singled up the middle and moved to second on a passed ball. After Jordan Foster drew a walk, Finan doubled to left center to score Gray with the first run. On the next play, Allen singled to left field to score Foster, but Finan was gunned down at the plate by a strong throw from left fielder Dane Ryan. The play was not over yet as catcher Brett Lewis quickly got back on his feet and threw a strike to second base to nail Allen trying to advance to end the inning.
UTA (23-16, 9-5) pushed a run across in the second inning as Paul Bruder started things with a walk and moved to second on Ryan's single to right field. Lewis reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners before Daniel Lenihan plated Bruder with a sacrifice fly to left field.
The Mavs tied the game up in the sixth inning as Bruder walked with two outs and Daniel Macha delivered a pinch hit RBI triple to right field.
After Cardinals regained the lead, UTA did not got quietly in the ninth inning. For the third time, Bruder walked to start the inning and Macha singled up the middle to put runners on the corners with nobody out. LU then turned to closer Jon Hunton who was greeted with a sac bunt from Lewis. Hunton then struck out Lenihan looking and Carey Avants flied out lazily to center field to end the game.
Scott Vander Weg (4-3) got the win by allowing one hit in two innings of relief. Snapp (1-3) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in two innings of work. Hunton earned his conference leading ninth save after retiring all three batters he faced.
Macha led the offense with two hits as the team only ammassed four. Rocky Craigen led the Cardinals with three hits.
The Mavericks and Cardinals play the rubber match of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark. UTA will send RHP Jake Baxter (3-3, 3.81), while LU will counter with LHP Derrick Gordon (6-1, 1.64)
