Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT — A pitching duel came down to the final swing of the bat Thursday night between Lamar (4-5) and Brigham Young (6-2).

The Cards took an early 1-0 lead in the first and led through four before BYU tied it in the fifth at 1-1. The game remained tied through the next four innings before the Cougars brought three home in the top of the 10th to win 4-2 over Lamar.

Taylor Rich got the start for Lamar after originally being on the docket for Tuesday’s rescheduled game against the University of Houston. Rich threw 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one earned run on four hits. He struck out three while walking five and allowing a hit-by-pitch.

Austin Smith took over for Rich in the fifth and pitched three and a third shutout innings, striking out three while allowing three hits. Ryan Erickson struck out three in the ninth to give Lamar the chance to win it in regulation before BYU fought back in the 10th.

Avery George got the game started with a lead-off single to short — keeping his eight-game hit streak and his 19-game reached base streak alive. The sophomore from Humble advanced to second on a passed ball and was joined on the base paths by JC Correa after a walk.

Robin Adames singled George home and put Correa in scoring position but a double play ended the threat. Lamar led 1-0 after one.

Lamar bent but didn’t break defensively through most of the evening, stranding 13 Cougars on base. BYU loaded up the bases twice — in the third and fifth innings — but got one combined run out of those two innings. The Cards couldn’t turn that stellar defense into offense though, stranding eight themselves despite hits in the first, fourth, sixth, seventh, and 10th innings. Double plays and strikeouts kept LU from stringing together multiple hits all game except in the first inning.

After BYU put three across in the top of the 10th on four hits, a sac fly, and a fielder’s choice, Lamar came within inches of tying the game.

Cole Coker drew a five-pitch walk with two outs, then Correa stepped up to the plate. The junior from Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, singled off the first pitch he saw and advanced to second on a throwing error by the center fielder. The ball went out of play and brought Coker home to put the score at 4-2.

With Correa in scoring position Adames stepped up to the plate and took two pitches before swinging at the third. The senior from The Bronx, N.Y., smoked the ball well into right center field, and if the wind had been driving out to right as it had at the beginning of the game he would have brought himself and Correa home. Instead the ball fell just short of the wall and into the glove of the awaiting BYU right fielder, ending the game. BYU won 4-2.

Jason Blanchard takes the mound for LU in Game 2 of the series on Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Vincent-Beck Stadium.