LAMAR DOWNS SHSU
For Immediate Release: Saturday, February 8, 2004
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director

EDINBURG, TX-Lamar came back from a 4-0 deficit and defeated Sam Houston State, 7-4, in the nightcap of the second day doubleheader at the UTPA/Al Ogletree Classic at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium Saturday evening.

The Cardinals scored three times in the fourth, twice in the fifth and twice in the seventh to win for the second time in as many days at the tournament.

Designated hitter Nick Klusaw's sacrifice fly, a single by second baseman Chase Edwards and an error by SHSU third baseman Matt Emerson accounted for LU's first three runs in the fourth inning. A wild pitch and Klusaw's RBI single in the fifth made it 5-4, LU, and a bases-loaded walk to first baseman Ryan Finan and John Allen's sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 7-4, Cardinals.

Emerson's two-run homer had staked the Bearkats to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. A two-run single by first baseman Jonathan Stone made it 4-0, SHSU, in the third.

Reliever Derrick Gordon, the third Lamar, pitcher, earned the victory with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, improving to 1-0, while reliever Kyle Stutes earned his second save in as many days. SHSU starter Zach Adkisson took the loss and fell to 0-1.

Sam Houston State fell to 1-1, while Lamar improved to 2-0. The Bearkats will finish tournament action against Kansas Sunday at 12 noon, while the Cardinals will play host Texas-Pan American at 3:00 p.m.

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