BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar (4-0) hit four home runs, including two grand slams en route to a 13-5 win over the Arizona Wildcats (2-2) on a chilly Monday night in Beaumont, Texas.
Arizona scored first for the fourth time this season after JJ Matijevic singled, Ryan Haug walked and a Justin Behnke walk loaded the bases for Cody Ramer in the top of the second. Ramer, who was 6-11 in the Rice series stepped up and delivered a clutch two-strike single up the middle, which scored Matijevic and Haug.
The bottom of the second was troublesome for starter Michael Flynn, who made his first-career start on Monday, as three singles loaded the bases with two outs. Brendan Satran stepped up to the plate and launched a grand slam, giving the Cardinals a 4-2 lead and knocking Flynn out of the game. Robby Medel relieved Flynn of his duties and was able to get out of the inning.
Arizona responded well in the top of the third as they were able to plate two more runs. After Ryan Aguilar flied out to center to start the inning, Bobby Dalbec hit his first double of the season to left center. Sawyer Gieseke, Zach Gibbons and Matijevic followed that up with three straight singles, tying the game at four.
In the bottom of the fourth, Medel hit and walked a batter, and a pass ball allowed them to advance a station. Medel induced a groundball to third base, but Dalbec was able to field it and throw Trey Silvers out at the plate. Medel got Satran to pop out to first, and then Rio Gomez came on to pitch for Arizona. Gomez walked the lone batter he faced to load the bases and Kevin Ginkel came on to make his Arizona debut. It was an unfortunate start to his Arizona career as Jacoby Middleton hit the second two-out grand slam of the night, making the score 8-4 Lamar at the end of the fourth inning.
Arizona stranded two in the top of the fifth and Lamar added a run in the bottom half of the inning after Ramer committed the first error of the season for Arizona on an errant throw to first base, allowing a run to score.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the sixth as Jared Oliva led off with a triple to right field. Oliva would eventually make it home on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 9-5.
Lamar got right back to work in the bottom of the sixth as the Cardinals were able to get a runner to third base with one out. Austin Rubick was called on to make his debut on the mound for Arizona, and Middleton would welcome him with his second home run in as many at bats, this one a two-run shot to right field. Those two runs were the first two Lamar runs that were not scored with two outs. The damage was not done though as Rubick would walk one and then Reid Russell hit another two-run shot to centerfield, making the score 13-5.
Arizona would not score another run in the final innings.
The Wildcats are back in action on Friday as they take on Tulane at the Tony Gwynn Classic.
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