Northeastern dampens Aggie playoff hopes

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LAWTON, Okla. (April 21) - Cameron entered Wednesday's baseball doubleheader with Northeastern State needing a sweep over the Redmen and some help from other North Division teams to remain in the hunt for the team's first Lone Star Conference tournament berth since 1992. Unfortunately, the Aggies got neither.

Coach Todd Holland's squad dropped the first game 7-5, before rebounding for an 8-6 win in the nightcap. Cameron's main competition in the battle for second place in the LSC North standings, East Central and Southeastern Oklahoma, both won games, as well. East Central collected a victory over 13th-ranked Central Oklahoma before the second game of thier doubleheader was cancelled due to rain, while Southeastern swept doubleheader action over Southwestern Oklahoma.

Cameron (26-16, 12-10 LSC North) got off to a solid start on Wednesday and held a slim 4-3 advantage after four innings in Game 1. But Northeastern erupted for four runs on three hits in the top of the fifth, including a three-run homer by Bucky Davis, to take over.

The Aggies plated a run in the bottom of the sixth on Cody Brooks' RBI single, but could get no closer as NSU reliever Stephen Dangott held Cameron hitless over the final inning and a third to earn his fifth save of the season.

Aggie starter Jesse McDermott took the mound loss, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in just under five innings of work.

Northeastern built a commanding 6-2 lead through four innings in Game 2, but it was the Aggies who put together the big inning in the nightcap. Cameron racked up six runs on four hits, including a two-RBI single by Rodney DeLong and a three-run homer by Derrick Mihecoby, to pull ahead in the bottom of the fifth. The Aggies roughed up NSU reliver Eric Cunningham, who entered the game with the bases loaded before walking in a run and giving up the Mihecoby homer. Cunningham lasted just a third of an inning, allowing three earned runs on three hits to take the loss.

Aggie reliever Allen Mitchell then retired six of the final two Northeastern batters he faced, including a pair of strikeouts to end the game in the seventh, to get the win. Mitchell (6-2)entered the game in the fourth inning, allowing just three hits and two unearned runs. He struck out four and walked one.

The Game 1 loss coupled with Southeastern's sweep over Southwestern virtually eliminated the Aggies from a shot at making the LSC tournament. Cameron will conclude the regular season with a three-game series on the road at East Central this weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., before closing out the regular season with a single nine-inning game on Sunday at 1.

The 2004 Lone Star Conference championship tournament, featuring the top two teams each from the LSC North and South Divisions, is scheduled to begin April 30.