The Colonels’ baseball team found the going very tough as they were swept by the 22nd ranked Lamar Cardinals. Despite giving a valiant effort, they could not put together a win.
Out of the three games, the first and final games of the series were the closest the Colonels came to winning.In Sunday’s game, the Cardinals (31-12 16-4 SLC) defeated the Colonels (21-25 6-15 SLC) 6-3 in the final game of the series.
“It was a tough series for us overall. I give credit to the Cardinals because those guys really came ready to play. The difference was we did not make the breaks and necessary plays that we needed to win and they did,” head coach, B.D. Parker said.
The Colonels were the first to get on the board when junior infielder Jeremy Helton hit a single to bring in senior shortstop Chuck Hickman who had a leadoff walk.
Helton would then score to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to an RBI single from senior outfielder Bryan James.
Parker was pleased with the total hits and runs scored by the Colonels for the series, but could not understand the outcome.
“We got 32 hits and scored 20 runs in the series but we did not come away with a win. Whenever we are that productive on offense, we have to find a way to win. We will just have to continue play hard and improve,” Parker said.
The Cardinals would not trail for long as they wheeled off three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
“We got off to a good start hitting the ball, but we just could not maintain the momentum. In close games like this, we need to take advantage of our opportunities whenever possible,” James said.
In the top of the seventh, Hickman would get on base with a single. Senior outfielder Brad Dantonio would then knock a single to bring Hickman across.
The game was tied at three until the Cardinals scored the final three runs in the bottom of the eighth. That would be all the Cardinals needed to put the Colonels away.
For the game, the Cardinals scored six runs on 10 hits and committed one error, while the Colonels scored three runs on 12 hits and committed one error.
Sophomore pitcher Robbie Hebert fell to (3-6) for the Colonels as he pitched 7.2 innings, gave up 10 hits, six runs, three walks and struck out one. Four of the runs were earned.
James turned in a stellar performance in leading the Colonels at the plate going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Junior outfielder Jordan Foster and sophomore outfielder Shane Jensen both led the Cardinals in hitting going 4-for-2. Freshmen pitcher William Delage got the win giving up nine hits, three runs and striking out four.

Cardinals 16 Colonels 8
The game was close until the Colonels gave up eight runs in the bottom of the seventh due to a crucial error by the defense.
The Colonels scored first when Helton walked and was later brought home by an RBI single from James. Junior Catcher Scott Wearne drove in James with an RBI single to make the lead 2-0.
The Colonels would add two runs in the top of the second and one in the top of the third. They would complete their scoring in the top of the fifth with three runs.
The Colonels had an 8-1 lead, but could bring in the victory.
“Matt Overman pitched well enough for us to win. He was outstanding, but the defense let him down. We just did not get the job done,” Parker said.
For the game the Cardinals scored 16 runs off 16 hits and committed three errors, while the Colonels scored eight runs on 13 hits and committed three errors.
Senior pitcher Matt Overman pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 10 hits, six runs, three walks while striking out five. Three runs were earned. Senior outfielder Clint Joffrion led the Colonels in hitting going 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored two runs.

Cardinals 12 Colonels 9
The Colonels assembled a strong rally in the final four innings, but it was not enough to get the victory.
The Colonels scored first in the top of the first for a 1-0 lead. The Colonels also scored in the top of the fifth. The Cardinals wasted no time as they scored five runs in the bottom of the first and added two more in the bottom of the second to build a 7-1 lead. The Cardinals would score their final five in the bottom of the fifth for a 12-2 lead.
Dantonio kept the Colonels in contention by blasting a grand slam homer in the top of the sixth. They would manage to score only three more runs as the Cardinals preserved the victory.
The Cardinals scored 12 runs on 19 hits and had one error, while the Colonels scored nine runs on 17 hits. Junior pitcher Mike Prejean got the loss pitching 4.1 innings, while giving up 15 hits, 11 runs, two walks while striking out six. Wearne and senior infielder Jacob Carlson led the Colonels at the plate both going 3-for-5.
The Colonels will try to bounce back from the series sweep when they take on the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns on Wednesday, May 7 in Lafayette.
“Our mentality is not at its strongest right now as a team,” Parker said. “The effort the guys give is not the problem, we just have a lot of deficiencies we need to correct.”
Parker said the Colonels need to be mentally tough in preparing for the upcoming week.
“We are off for preparation week for final exams. We are going to practice this week basically around study sessions. If the guys do not take their finals, they will not play,” Parker said.