This is the last week of Lone Star Conference play as teams
compete for one of six spots in the Lone Star Conference
Championship to be held in Abilene, Texas, May 1-2-3-4.
LSC action continued last week with Northeastern State, Texas
A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M all sweeping their four
or two-game series, while Abilene Christian and Southeastern
Oklahoma each won two of three games in weather shortened
series.
LSC Baseball teams are 275-262 overall this season. In the
NCAA South Central Region, the LSC is currently 11-10 combined
versus Heartland Conference squads and 6-2 against the Mid-America
Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
Diamond Players of the Week
HITTER
Clifton Thomas, Texas A&M-Kingsville, Sr., Centerfield,
San Diego, Calif./El Cajon Valley HS
Thomas had a phenomenal doubleheader at East Central last
weekend. In the opening game he went 4-for-5 with four runs
and two RBI’s while becoming the first player in school
history to hit for the cycle. Most impressive is that he
accomplished the feat in a 7-inning game. He needed a double
in his final at bat of the game to record the cycle and came
through in the seventh inning. In the second game, he was
nearly as good as he went 3-for-6 with two runs, an RBI, a double
and two triples. Count it all up and he went 7-for-11 with
six extra base hits and six runs in the doubleheader sweep.
Eric McKinney, Northeastern State, Sr., Centerfield, Spiro,
Okla./Spiro HS
McKinney helped Northeastern State to a 5-0 week, including a
4-game sweep over Eastern New Mexico, to stay in contention for a
Lone Star Conference Tournament berth. The senior outfielder hit
.545 for the week (12-of-22) with three doubles, three homeruns, 5
RBI and scored six runs. In the ENMU series, McKinney was 10-of-16
(.625) at the plate where he accounted for all three of his
homeruns and a whopping 1.250 slugging percentage.
PITCHER
Red Patterson, Southwestern Oklahoma, Sr., P, Frisco,
Texas/Frisco
In a 2-1 win, Patterson struck out a LSC best 15 batters in a
nine-inning, complete-game win over Abilene Christian. The victory
over ACU was the first every by SWOSU and broke a streak of 18
consecutive losses. Patterson gave up just six hits and walked five
batters while throwing 161 pitches in the win. He improved to 4-3
with the victory.
Aaron Lambrix, Abilene Christian, So., Pitcher, North
Tustin, Calif.
Lambrix continued his outstanding performance on the mound for ACU
this spring picking up a win on Monday over Southwestern
Oklahoma. Lambrix’s win gave ACU the series win as he
went the distance for second complete game and second shutout of
the season. He was effective in the strike zone with only two
walks while striking out four and scattering three hits in the win.