BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University dropped a 5-2 decision in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Central Arkansas, but rallied for a7-2 victory in the second game. The split moves LU to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in Southland action.
 
After being held to two runs in the opening game, the offense rebounded to score seven runs on 13 hits in the second. Cardinals sent four players to the mound in the second game. Josh Ekness got the start and went four innings surrendering just one run on two hits, while striking out five. Marcus Olivarez, Douglas Palmer (Win – 2-0) and Daniel Cole combined to pitch the final five innings surrendering just one run on three hits while striking out four batters. Dillan Janak went four innings in game two for the Bears and suffered the loss.
 
Zach Bravo went five innings and surrendered four runs on three hits, but only two earned, while striking out three but was hung with the game one loss. It was his first of the season (2-1). UCA's Tyler Cleveland got the win.
 
In the opening game the Cardinals struck first with two runs in the home half of the first. After Avery George led off the inning with a single, he stole second. George scored the game's first run two batters later when Anthony Quirion drove him home with a single to left.
 
That lead held held until the fourth inning when the Bears broke through with four runs. UCA tacked on another run in the seventh and the Cards were unable to answer.
 
After giving up a run in the top of the first inning, back-to-back doubles from Kelby Weyler and Quirion sparked the Cardinal offense and recaptured the lead. George led things off with a single and scored on Weyler's double to down the left line. Quirion doubled Weyler home and later scored from third when Deric LaMontagne grounded out to first.  
 
The Cards put another crooked number on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, also started with a George single – this one through the left side. Weyler advanced George to second when he reached on a bunt single, and both moved up a bag on a wild pitch. With a first base open, the Bears elected to walk Chase Kemp, who launched a solo shot in the third inning. LaMontagne and Matthew McDonald laced back-to-back singles into left field to push across George and Weyler and make it 6-1. Kemp scored the final run of the inning and game on a sacrifice fly from Ben McNaughton.  
 
The top four hitters in the LU order combined to go 8-for-17 and scored all seven runs, led by a 3-for-5 game with two runs from Weyler. George (2-for-5) and Kemp (2-for-3) also scored two runs each. LaMontagne and McDonald each were 2-of-4. LaMontagne led the team with two RBIs.  
 
Cardinal pitching held the Bears to five hits and two walks with 10 total strikeouts. UCA's first run was scored in the first inning, a Benny Ayala sacrifice to score Beau Orlando. Connor Flagg scored the final run from third on a single from Kolby Johnson in the ninth.  It was the eighth game this season that Cardinal hurlers have held their opponent to two or less runs.  
 
The Cardinals will look to take the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday. They will play host to Southeastern Louisiana starting Friday at 6 p.m.