HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University used a six-run seventh and a three-run 8^th to break a one-run game wide open to defeat Houston Baptist, 13-3, in eight innings in game one of a four-game series Thursday afternoon.
 
Junior Trevin Michael got the start and pitched 6.0 innings for the win, surrendering three runs on six hits while striking out seven. He picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the season.
 
Austin Spinney got the start for HBU and surrendered four runs on 10 hits and was pulled after six innings trailing by only a run, but he was failed by his bullpen. Spinney was lifted for Blake Bogiano who faced three batters surrendering three hits before being pulled in favor of Morris Austin. Austin walked the only two batters he faced. Spinney took the loss falling to 0-4 on the season.
 
Junior Chase Kemp led the Cardinals' offense with a 4-of-5 effort with five RBIs. Kemp was one of five Cardinals to record at least two hits on the day. Anthony Quirion and Reese Durand each finished the day with two hits and two RBIs.
 
The Cardinals (11-8/3-6 Southland) struck for four runs in the top half of the third. The first four batters that came to the plate in the inning reached after three hits – including a Kelby Weyler double – and a walk. Kemp plated the first run when he singled to center scoring Ryan Snell. After a sacrifice fly scored the second run, Durand doubled home the Cardinals' other two runs.
 
HBU responded in the home half of the fourth scoring two runs to trim the Cardinals' lead in half, 4-2. The lead remained at two until the bottom half of the sixth when the Huskies led off the inning with a walk and a triple, but Michael settled down after that to get the next three batters, including two strikeouts.
 
The Cardinals answered right back in a big way in the next half inning. LU opened the inning with three consecutive hits to force a pitching change. The new pitcher – Blake Bogiano – walked the first two batters he faced forcing another HBU pitching change. The Cardinals tacked on two more hits and two more runs to score six runs on five hits and take a seven-run lead into the bottom of the seventh.
 
Big Red was right back on the attack with three more runs in the top of the eighth to take a 10-run lead. Houston Baptist had no answer offensively as LU picked up the run-rule victory in game one.
 
The Cardinals return to action Friday morning for the first game of the doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. from Husky Field. Zach Bravo will take the mound in the first game followed by Josh Ekness in the second half of the doubleheader.