Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Texas - Home runs inflated the score Friday in the series opener between Lamar University (10-20, 2-11 SLC) and Sam Houston State (18-9, 10-3 SLC). The Cards briefly led 3-2 in the top of the third before the Bearkats broke open the game in the bottom of the inning. The game went 15-6 in favor of Sam Houston at Don Sanders Stadium.

The Bearkats struck first with two runs in the first inning on a two-out, two-run homer. Neither team scored in the second as starter Noah Sills sat the Bearkats down in order with two strikeouts, and Lamar scored for the first time in the top of the third. Rhett McCall singled up the middle with one out and reached third on a double by Avery George. A triple from Cole Girouard scored both Cardinals. Coker brought Girouard home with an RBI grounder to first and gave LU a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Sam Houston would respond with three runs in the bottom of the third, four in the fourth, three in the fifth, and three in the sixth. AJ Ozorio-Brace would sit down the Bearkats in order in the seventh and eighth innings.

Lamar's final two runs came in the top of the eighth. Girouard singled with one out and reached second on defensive indifference. A two-out double from JC Correa scored Girouard and Kirkland Banks scored Correa.

Jorge Gutierrez led off with a double in the top of the ninth and reached third when Brennan Lambert reached on an error. An RBI fielder's choice from George scored the final Cardinal run.

Girouard (three hits), Correa (two hits), George, Robin Adames, Banks, Reese Durand, Berlof, Jorge Gutierrez, and McCall had Lamar's 12 hits in the game.

The Cardinals and Bearkats return to action on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 3 pm.

#WeAreLU