BASEBALL: Coker’s 10th-inning single caps Cardinals’ senior night win
Published 11:27 pm Friday, May 17, 2019
Lamar sports information
BEAUMONT – Junior Cole Coker got a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th to score Avery George from second as the Lamar walked off Central Arkansas, 3-2, on Senior Night on Friday evening from Vincent-Beck Stadium. The game-winning hit preserved a stellar pitching performance from senior Jason Blanchard who went eight innings surrendering two unearned runs on three hits while striking out 10 Bears.
“Jason has been strong for us this season,” said LU head coach Will Davis. “With all of the injuries we’ve faced this year the one constant we’ve had has been him. He’s kept our bullpen from being overused because he goes deep into games every time he takes the mound, and he always gives us a chance to win. He did that again today and we were able to get the win. It was a great job by Jason.”
The Cardinals’ (18-35, 9-20 Southland) late-inning heroics prevented UCA from taking over the top spot in the Southland standings.
Fans were witness to two strong pitching performances as there was only one run scored heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. UCA cracked the scoreboard first when Christian Brasher singled to short scoring Beau Orlando who advanced to third on an error.
Despite the early deficit, Blanchard held UCA to the one-run lead until the Cardinals’ offense could get going. Big Red finally broke through in the bottom half of the sixth inning. With runners at second and third and only one out, junior Anthony Quirion singled to left center to give the Red and White its first lead of the game, 2-1. Quirion finished the night 2-for-4 at the plate.
The Cardinals carried that lead into the top half of the ninth as Blanchard went back out to the mound. Blanchard gave way to classmate Noah Sills after surrendering a lead off walk. After the walk, Bryce Dodd came on to pinch run for Tyler Smith. Dodd advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out Tanner Wiley flied to right and Avery George fired to third, but the ball got passed Robin Adames allowing the runner to score.
The hplay eventually forced extra innings, but the Cardinals refused to quit, and the fans didn’t have to wait long to see the response. With Brett McCall on first George hit into a fielder’s choice to bring Cole Girouard to the plate. Girouard drew a walk setting up Coker’s walk-off hit. After fouling off the first pitch, Coker drove the ball into the gap in left center scoring George for the victory.
“In the 10th, we had a couple of really good at bats and got the guy up that we wanted in Cole Coker and that was a great job by Cole to end the game. When you’re facing a guy that brings it up there at 97 miles and hour its always good to have a lefty in there to face him.”
The Cardinals return to action Saturday to close out the 2019 regular season. The series finale will begin at 1 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium.