NEW ORLEANS – The Cardinals never could find the one big hit it needed Friday night when the Lamar baseball was shutout for the first time in the 2017 campaign, falling 2-0 at New Orleans in Southland Conference action at Maestri Field.

Both starting pitchers dealt on the hill, and UNO’s (18-13, 7-6 Southland) Shawn Semple (5-1) was able to dance out of danger several times. He finished the day with eight scoreless innings of work, and gave up only five hits and three walks. He struck out nine.

LU’s (17-14, 5-8) Carson Lance (4-4) was also very good, but took the loss with just one run allowed in seven innings on four hits and four walks. Ryan Johnson surrendered the other run, unearned, and Ryan Cawthon finished the game with one scoreless inning.

The Cardinals had their chances to score, including a bases-loaded, one out jam for Semple in the first inning, but the right-hander worked out of it with back-to-back strikeouts. McDowell led off that inning with a hit-by-pitch, and Robin Adames followed with a double to right field before Fleischman loaded the bases after he reached on an error.