Runs were rare Wednesday night when the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball team made a quick pitstop in Beaumont, Texas, on the way to Houston for this weekend’s upcoming SWAC series.
Lamar, a team undefeated in midweek games this season, defeated UAPB 3-1 at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
Five pitchers for Lamar (27-8) held the Golden Lions (5-26) to 1 run on 6 hits and 2 walks, while 7 UAPB pitchers allowed 3 runs on 6 hits and 8 walks. Neither team committed an error.
UAPB starter Chris Bedgood pitched the first 2 1/3 innings before being pulled for sophomore right-hander Cole Kenyon. He allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 6 walks.
Kenyon’s ninth appearance of the season was a good one. He retired eight of the nine hitters he faced, with his only baserunner reaching on a borderline ball-four call on a 3-2 pitch. This came after Lamar loaded the bases in each of the first two innings.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Lamar left-handed starter Jayden Shertel pitched the first three innings, holding UAPB to two hits before fellow lefty Kyle Mosely took over.
UAPB had its best scoring threat in the top of the sixth inning against Mosely while trailing 1-0. The Golden Lions loaded the bases with no outs and opted for a suicide squeeze bunt, though the Cardinals got the lead runner on a force out at home. Lamar then turned to its first right-handed pitcher of the day, Trent Baker (2-0).
First baseman Ben VanMaanen delivered an RBI single to tie the game, but the go-ahead run had to remain at third base. Baker induced a double play to get out of the bases-loaded jam with only 1 run scoring.
The Cardinals quickly retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning against Steffan Fak (1-2) on an RBI triple by second baseman Hector Rodriguez. After UAPB replaced Fak with Brendan Hamlin, Lamar right fielder Damian Ruiz drove Rodriguez home with a single.
The 3-1 score held the rest of the game. Lamar senior right-hander Peyton Havard earned his third save of the season by retiring the final two hitters in the ninth.
Each of UAPB’s hits came from a different batter, while Lamar third baseman Zak Skinner and designated hitter Matt Ryan each tallied two hits. Ryan scored 2 of Lamar’s 3 runs.
Of note, UAPB starting catcher Vinny Saumell exited the game between the third and fourth innings after being hit in the upper thigh area on a fouled pitch. He finished the inning behind the plate but was replaced by Courtney Allen in the next half-inning.