BEAUMONT – Resilient is defined as the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. In Beaumont, Texas it is defined as the Lamar University baseball through the first six games of its season. Just another example was on display when Bryndan Arredondo took a 3-1 count pitch and drove it over the left field wall in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Cardinals a 7-6 walk-off win against North Dakota State Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
 
Down to two outs, again, Bryndan Arredondo, who took a foul ball off of his leg in the fifth inning, was in the ninth inning just looking for pitch he could drive in a hitter's count, and took it deep for his second home run of this season. The homer is the seventh the team has had since Monday's game against Arizona.
 
"After Wednesday (win over No. 5 LSU), you don't think you can top something like that," said assistant coach Will Davis. "It was one of those games that feels like things aren't going your way, but you just have to keep fighting because you never know."
 
Head coach Jim Gilligan was out due to an illness on Friday, the head coach in waiting was left to take the reins.
 
The Cardinals (6-0), who now have 26 two-out runs scored this season, fell down 3-1 after 3 ½ innings, but fought back with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-3 advantage. They held that lead until the Bison (3-1) worked it back to a tied ball game with three of their own in the seventh.  The win gives LU a 6-0 start for the first time since 2009 when it was 9-0.
 
Down 3-1, second baseman Gavin Tristan singled up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch before it was two men on and no outs when Stijn van der Meer was walked. Eventually NDSU would load the bases when Jake Nash drew four wild ones, and Jacoby Middleton sent home a run with another four wide ones.
 
Cutter McDowell tied the contest with a single into left field that scored van der Meer before Middleton was driven in two batters later on another bases-loaded walk. The final runs of the inning were both unearned after NDSU right fielder dropped a fly ball that allowed Cutter McDowell to score on the play and Reid Russell one play later.
 
Starter Will Hibbs, who worked six total innings with three runs allowed on seven hits and three walks, kept the Bison from scoring in the top of the sixth, but LU couldn't do the same in the top of the seventh. Brayden Resch led off the frame with a base on balls and scored when Ben Petersen hit a towering double deep to right center field. Next up, Taylor Sanders drew four balls to put men on second and third with no outs just before Mason Pierzchalski drove in one of them with a single to right center.
 
Late innings reliever Jimmy Johnson (2-0) was called into the game, and came up huge for the Cardinals.
 
"I'm so proud of Jimmy Johnson," said Davis. "I told him when he came in with runners on first and third that I don't care if the runner on third scores to tie it up, we'll get another run.  Don't let the guy at first score, and he did a great job for us. He gave us a chance to win that in the ninth."
 
He struck out the first batter he saw, but gave up a single to right field that did advance the tying run home. From there, he was dominant and held the Bison hitless with only one walk allowed. He won his second game in as many contests after taking the victory against LSU.
 
NDSU reliever Sean Terres (0-1) took the loss on 2/3 of an inning with the only hit being the homer from Arredondo. Blake Stockert took the mound in the five-run fifth and really held the Cardinal offense at bay. He worked four innings with one run allowed on three hits.
 
Arredondo, who had two RBI, led LU with three hits in four at-bats and was followed by two hits from van der Meer, McDowell and Tristan. Van der Meer led off the game with a single up the middle and was scored after Jake Nash crushed a ball to left center field.
 
The Cardinals will look to extend its winning streak to seven and possibly eight with a double-header against the Bison on Saturday with a 1 p.m. first pitch.  Jayson McKinley (0-0, 0.00 earned run average) is expected to start against Alex Rogers (0-0, 18.00) in game one and Fernando Martinez (0-0, 3.60) will take on Reed Pfannenstein (0-0, 9.00).
 
Due to the Gusher Marathon held on Saturday, patrons planning to attend the game are advised to travel south on US 69 (Cardinal Drive) to the Highland Avenue Exit. Take this exit and remain on the service road until the intersection with Rolfe Christopher. Drive under the overpass north on Rolfe Christopher. Turn left (west) into the Soccer/Softball Complex parking lot, which is adjacent to the Vincent-Beck Stadium parking lot.