HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University bounces back from a one-run loss in game one to record a split at Houston Baptist Saturday afternoon. HBU scored a late run to defeat the Cardinals, 3-2, in the first, but Big Red pounded out 17 hits to defeat the Huskies, 15-4, in the second game.
 
Junior Zach Bravo pitched good enough to get the win in game one going 4.2 (in a seven-inning game) allowing just two runs on four hits with three strikeouts, but didn't figure in the decision. Marcus Olivarez pitched the final 1.1 innings surrendering just one run on two hits but took the loss.
 
Jacob Coats pitched six innings and got the win for HBU. He gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out five.
 
The Huskies took the early lead in game one as Jake Miller took a 1-0 pitch deep in the bottom of the first. LU didn't wait long to respond. In the Cardinals' half of the third Cole Girouard led off the inning with a single, and then stole second. Two batters later, Girouard came around to score on a Kelby Weyler single through the right side. Weyler came around to score moments later off the bat of Avery George.
 
Unfortunately, the Huskies responded in the home half of the inning with a two-out wild pitch.
 
Following the third, both pitchers took control of the game not allowing a run for the next 2.5 innings. Unfortunately, that run was scored by HBU in the bottom half of the 6^th and the Cardinals were unable to score in the 7^th.

Freshman Josh Ekness got the start in game two and pitched four innings. He left the game with a one-run lead after surrendering just two earned runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts. Christian Grigsby came on in relief to get the win after pitching two scoreless innings after surrendering a hit and a walk with one punchout.
 
Tyler Zarella pitched 6.1 innings surrendering seven runs (four earned) on eight hits in the loss.
 
The second game saw LU strike for four runs in the top of the third inning. The Cardinals scored their runs off two hits and took advantage of two HBU errors to grab the lead. Big Red loaded the bases with no outs when Kemp doubled to right center plating the first two runs of the game. The Cardinals' third run of the inning came around to score on an error when the right fielder dropped a fly ball of the bat of George. The final run came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Quirion (driving in Kemp).
 
Unfortunately, the lead didn't last long HBU hung a four-run spot in the bottom half of the inning. The Huskies scored their four runs on three hits with an error to tie the game.
 
The top of the third kick off a punch-count punch stretch of the game. After HBU rallied for four to tie, the Cardinals jumped right back on top in the next half inning. Matthew McDonald drove the first pitch he saw in the fourth over the wall in left center to give the Cards back a one-run advantage, 5-4.
 
The Cardinals held HBU's in check until the offense could get going again. Big Red took advantage of three walks in the inning to tack on two more runs. With runners at first and second, George laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up. Quirion then drove them home with a single to center. After another walk, MacNaughton singled to center scoring Kemp.
 
Big Red's offense exploded for eight runs on eight hits in the next inning to take a commanding 15-4 lead as 13 Cardinals came to the plate. Weyler got two hits in the inning and Girouard and George both reached base twice. The Huskies were unable to answer in their half of the inning as Big Red recorded the run-rule victory.
 
All nine starters got hits for LU in the second game, with six different players recording multi-hit games. Weyler went 3-for-4 in the second game with three runs and an RBI, while Daniel Altman was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. McDonald was 1-for-3 in the second game but his hit was a home run.
 
Weyler ended the day with four hits (4-for-7) with four runs and two RBIs.