Clear Creek Wildcats Baseball

Latulippe's Walk-Off Homer Lifts Lamar To 1-0 Season-Opening Win

Ricky Testa and Matt Gore combine on a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts

Feb. 20, 2009

Ricky Testa (Mesquite, Texas) and Matt Gore (Orange, Texas) combined for a one-hitter while Joey Latulippe's (League City, Texas) walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth gave Lamar a dramatic 1-0 win over Austin Peay in the season-opener for both teams at Vincent-Beck Stadium Friday night.

On a chilly night in the 50s with the wind blowing in like it always does at Vincent-Beck, Testa struck out a career-high 10 in six innings while allowing the only hit of the night for the Governors on the third batter of the game. From there he was brilliant as he walked just two and retired 11-consecutive from the second through sixth innings. In fact, none of the three Austin Peay batters that reached base advanced to second.  The last time a Lamar hurler struck out 10 batters came two years ago when Allen Harrington did it twice.

Gore (1-0) started the seventh and retired all nine men he faced with two strikeouts to his credit in earning the win.

The last time Lamar tossed a one-hitter came last season at home against Louisiana-Lafayette on April 22, 2008.

Latulippe hammered David Vicini's 1-2 off-speed pitch over the wall in left field to give the Cardinals their second-consecutive season-opening win. It was the 16th time in the last 18 years Lamar has started the year with a win. Latulippe went 3-for-4 with a double and a single along with his round-tripper. He also threw out the only Austin Peay base runner who attempted to steal second from his catcher spot.

Quentin Luquette reached base all four times he came to bat with a pair of singles and two walks.

Lamar had five hits and three walks, while reaching base twice via Governor fielding miscues.  Vicini (0-1) took the loss after relieving starter Ryne Harper with two out in the sixth. Harper struck out six and allowed two hits in 5.2 innings.

The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:30 a.m. Freshman Eric Harrington (Groves, Texas) is scheduled to start for Lamar against Stephen Huff of Austin Peay. The series will conclude on Sunday at Noon.

 went 3-for-4 with two extra-base hits, including a walk-off home run to give the Cardinals the victory

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