Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT – It was another pitcher’s duel at Vincent-Beck Stadium, but it was a play at the plate that made the biggest mark of the game when Brendan Satran singled home Bryndan Arredondo from second base to give the Lamar baseball team a walk-off 2-1 victory in the 10th inning Saturday afternoon.

The Cardinals (2-0), who will go for the sweep at 1 p.m. today, had a hit in the ninth inning, but before that no base knock had fallen since the first frame.

The 10th was a different story. With one out already, Arredondo singled a roller through the left side and was pushed to second when Chaneng Varela grounded out to third base with no play to try and get the lead runner.

In the first pitch he saw, Satran laced a ball down the third base line that rolled into left field with plenty of room to score the winning run.

“He had a good swing and just ripped one down the line. I feel sorry for their guys even though I feel great about winning because they really played great against us,” said head coach Jim Gilligan.

Lamar jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first, but after that neither team surrendered a run until SEMO (0-2) tied it in the eighth. During the drought, only two base runners were able to get to second base and both were Redhawks.

Jayson McKinley started for Big Red and took a no-decision after he worked through six innings with four hits allowed and six strikeouts. He surrendered no walks, which gives the Cardinals 12 innings from starters without a single walk.

Jimmy Johnson (1-0) took credit for the win on his 2 2/3 frames with two hits and four strikeouts. He entered the game right after SEMO’s Branden Boggetto singled to left center to score Brian Lees and tied the game. He gave up a single up the middle to the first batter he faced (Garrett Gandolfo), but was able to force Ryan Rippee into a 6-4-3 double play.

“His velocity was really good and threw a lot of strikes,” said Gilligan. “He did a great job.  He controlled his enthusiasm and I liked his dugout demeanor. Once he got back in, I think he settled down a little bit”

In his second inning to appear, he gave up a leadoff single, but stranded the runner there with three-straight punchouts. In his final frame, he walked a batter but first was as far as he got.

Brett Brown was in between McKinley and Johnson. He worked 1 1/3 innings with one run allowed on two hits and two strikeouts.

“I thought the pitchers not letting guys get the bat on the ball was the story of the game,” said Gilligan.

Southeast Missouri starter Clay Chandler lasted into the eighth inning and gave up only two hits and two walks.

“Chandler was magnificent against us. When you throw that good, you deserve to get the win, but the same could be said for McKinley,” said Gilligan. “Both of the starters didn’t get their money’s worth, but was just another well-played game.”

The loss was tagged to Justin Murphy (0-1), who worked 1 2/3 innings with one run on three hits.

Newcomer Reid Russell drove in the first run of the game with a single through the left side that scored Jacoby Middleton, who reached on a single through the same hole.  Middleton was moved to scoring position after Jake Nash drew a base on balls.

Nash notched the fourth hit of the ball game in the ninth, but stranded when he was rolled up in a double play.

Both Boggetto and Gandolfo had two hits in five trips for the game, and Brian Lees had two base knocks in four plate appearances.

“We’re going to have a tough time [today] if we let up in the least,” said Gilligan. “They can play. I’m impressed with their program.”

After the series concludes on Sunday, the Cardinals will turn their attention to Monday with a talented Arizona club coming in before the highly-anticipated contest with nationally-ranked LSU on Wednesday.