BEAUMONT – Twice the Lamar University baseball team had to rally back from a deficit, and twice it was Trey Silvers that either tied the game or put the Cardinals on top when they snapped their five-game skid with a 9-8 thriller over Sam Houston State in the first of three Jim Gilligan Days at Vincent-Beck Stadium in Southland Conference action Friday night.
 
With the win, the Cardinals clinched a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament, and the rest of the season will be battling for seeds. The Bearkats sit only two games in front of LU for second place, and the Lions of Southeastern Louisiana are four games up in first.
 
Silvers, who finished the night 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored, capped off a five-run comeback in the fourth with a two-run shot over the left field wall to put LU  (32-15, 17-8 Southland Conference) up 6-5, and then tied the game after Big Red was down 8-6 with a single to right center in the eighth.
 
"He's been doing a great job for us the last few weeks," said  head coach Jim Gilligan. "There is no way we could've won this game without him tonight."
 
Sam Houston State (31-19, 19-6) hung a five-spot on the Cardinals in the first two innings, but starter Will Hibbs was able to settle in and hold the Bearkats there while his offense worked back into it.
 
"They came out of the blocks doing everything; long balls, stealing and bunting. They put on a clinic on how to play baseball," said Gilligan. "I have to hand it to Will Hibbs. After giving up five runs in the first two innings, he throws up two zeros and that gave us some time.
 
"I went out and told him about a mechanical changes he needed to make, and he fixed it," said Gilligan. "Only veterans can do that type of thing."
 
In the third, Silvers drew a leadoff walk and took third on a double to left center from Robin Adames. Nine-hole hitter Chaneng Varela punched a double down the left field line and scored both. The bottom of the LU order- Silvers, Adames and Varela- accounted for seven of LU's eight runs batted in and four of the nine runs scored. Combined they were 6-of-11.
 
Varela came around to score on back-to-back singles from Stijn van der Meer and Jake Nash, and van der Meer scored on a bases loaded double play with no outs. Silvers put LU up 6-5in the fourth on the long ball that scored Jacoby Middleton, who reached on single.
 
Hibbs finished his night with six innings of work and allowed six runs on 11 hits and a walk. The senior punched out seven Kats. Jimmy Johnson relieved him, but gave up the tying and go-ahead run in the seventh. He forced the first batter he faced into a ground out, but a hit batter, walk and single scored one. Jaxxon Grisham grounded out, but scored Andrew Fregia from third to give the Kats some more room.
 
Travis Moore (3-2) relieved him with two outs, and struck out the only batter he faced in the inning. He earned the win on 2.1 scoreless frames of work and had two strikeouts. After LU took the lead in the bottom of the eighth, he came on and retired the side in order.
 
McDowell led off the inning with a ringing double down the left field line, and after Bryndan Arredondo's single into right field and Middleton was hit by a pitch the bases were juiced for Silvers.  He rocketed a pitch right over the second baseman's glove and scored McDowell and Arredondo and left Middleton at third, which was huge because Robin Adames scored him in with a groundout to the left side.
 
All but one Cardinals in the LU starting lineup had a base knock, and Nash, McDowell, Arredono and Silvers all had two hits in the 12-hit outburst for Lamar. Both Silvers and Middleton each had two runs.
 
SHSU starter Heath Donica pitched six innings, but gave up six runs on nine hits and one walk. Miles Manning (4-3) took the loss with three runs allowed on three hits and struck out three.
 
A couple of Bearkats had three hits, Bryce Johnson and Robie Rojas. Johnson had a run and RBI and Rojas had two runs and three RBI- two of the RBI came on his two run home run in the first inning.
 
Saturday's pregame festivities will be something that fans won't want to miss. Saturday and Sunday will be busy days at The Beck. Saturday, with its annual reunion, The LUBPA will honor the 1992-96 Cardinal classes in pregame ceremonies, and right after the Southland Conference and Lamar University will recognize Jim Gilligan his more than
40 years of service.
 
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and take part in the pregame festivities surrounding the celebration Saturday. For fans that walk up day of the game, tickets will be sold for $1, and it is going to be $1 Hot Dog Day, sponsored by Chartwells. While supplies last, Lamar athletics will be handing out commemorative Jim Gilligan stadium cups and free autographed mini baseball bats. There will also be a bounce house at the stadium for the children in attendance.