Lamar sports information

AUSTIN — A big third inning proved the difference Tuesday in a mid-week, non-conference meeting between Lamar (13-24) and No. 25 Texas (24-15). The Cards matched Texas in hits, but four unearned runs and a solo homer gave the Longhorns a 7-2 win over Big Red.

Erik Key looked good in his first Cardinal start, holding Texas to just one hit and one walk while striking out two. The Cardinal bullpen struck out another four and allowed just four more hits but two wild pitches, three hit batters, three walks, and three errors pushed across four unearned runs for the Horns.

Texas struck first with four runs in the third inning. A leadoff single advanced to second on a single and reached third on an error. A 1-3 bunt failed to score the runner, but a 6-3 grounder pushed across the run. A two-out walk and a two-out hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, and a double cleared the bases with a Cardinal error helping score the final run. Texas led 4-0 through three innings.

The Longhorns stole another run in the fifth inning. A hit-by-pitch advanced to second and to third on back-to-back wild pitches, and an error put runners on the corners. The Longhorn on third scored before a 1-5-6-4 throw out ended the inning. Texas led 5-0 through five innings.

Lamar got its first run in the top of the sixth inning. Avery George drew a lead-off walk and reached second on a balk. A two-out single by JC Correa up the middle scored George before a pop-up ended the half inning. Texas went 1-2-3 in the inning and the score was 5-1 in favor of the Horns through six innings.

Lamar pulled within three in the seventh inning. A lead-off single from Logan Berlof scored on an RBI double from Anthony Quirion with one out. Back-to-back fly-outs to right field traveled far but didn’t quite have the distance, stranding Quirion on second. Texas got the run back in the bottom of the inning with two walks, a single, a stolen base, and a sac fly. Through seven Texas led 6-2.

A solo homer scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to give Texas its final advantage, 7-2, over Lamar. The Cards put runners on the corners in the top of the ninth with a walk of Berlof and a single by Quirion but they were stranded.

The Cardinals return to action on Thursday with the first of three games at Abilene Christian.