HOUSTON – Lamar University (15-31) twice came within a few inches of victory Wednesday at Rice (18-25-2), but the Cardinals fell just short in a 2-1 decision in favor of the Owls.
 
Lamar came extremely close to drawing first blood in the top of the first inning. The Cards loaded the bases when Philip Ingram drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a bunt single from Cole Girouard. Cole Coker joined Girouard and Ingram on the base paths when he drew a full-count, one-out walk, but a double play ended the inning.
 
Big Red's next scoring opportunity came in the top of the third. Ingram singled through the right side with one out, and stole second while Robin Adames was working an 11-pitch at-bat into a walk. On the final pitch of Adames' at-bat a wild pitch allowed Ingram to reach third, but both were stranded on a flyout.
 
Jace Campbell threw three innings of scoreless baseball, striking out one with three hits, no walks, and two hit-by-pitch. Taylor Rich held the Owls scoreless in the fourth and had two outs in the fifth before Trei Cruz made contact on a 1-1 count, driving a deep fly ball just over the left field fence. Rich got the final out of the fifth, but after five innings Rice led 1-0.
 
A lead-off walk, an error on a stolen base, and a double down the left-field line scored the second run for Rice in the bottom of the seventh inning, and after seven Rice led 2-0.
 
Lamar came within inches of tying the game in the top of the eighth. Avery George singled to third base to lead off the inning and reached second on an error. A wild pitch put George on third during Ingram's at-bat, and on the fourth ball to Ingram another wild pitch brought George home. Ingram reached second on a two-out double before he was pinch ran for by Tyrese Clayborne. Coker singled to left and it looked as if Clayborne would score, but the throw from left field just beat the freshman home as he collided with the catcher. Rice led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
 
The Cards came within a few inches of tying the game again in the ninth. Cole Secrest singled to second with one out and reached second and was pinch ran by Chase Whetsel. Whetsel reached second on a wild pitch and George collected a two-out single to short. As George was beating out the throw to first from the shortstop, Whetsel turned towards home from third. The junior outfielder slid for home as the ball reached the catcher, and Whetsel was called out. The final: Rice 2, Lamar 1.
 
Big Red returns to action on Friday with the first of three non-conference games at TCU. The Cardinals will wrap their 12-game road trip with a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin on May 11, 12, and 13^th before closing the regular season with a three-game home series against McNeese on May 17, 18, and 19. 

-LU CARDINALS-