ABILENE, Texas – A two-out RBI single off the Mitchell Dickson was the difference in a 3-2 loss at Abilene Christian Friday afternoon in the game one of a four-game series. The loss ends Lamar University's (19-16/11-14 Southland) modest two-game win streak.
 
Friday's contest was a pitcher's duel that saw Braxton Douthit get the start for LU and scatter seven hits over 5.1 innings, with four strikeouts. Douthit didn't figure in the decision as the Cardinals threw four pitchers in the opener. Max Mize came on in relief and threw 1.1 innings giving up one run on two hits. Marcus Olivarez also went 1.1 surrendering one run on two hits but took the loss (0-3). Joe Buckendorff pitched 0.2 of an inning surrendering two hits and a walk while striking a batter.
 
Tyler Morgan got the start for ACU and went 7.0 surrendering two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Tanner Riley came on to pitch the ninth for the Wildcats to pick up the win.
 
Eight different Cardinals recorded a hit in the series opener led by Ryan Snell and Reese Durand. Snell was 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored, while Durand was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and was hit by a pitch.
 
The Cardinals struck first in the top half of the third off the bat of junior Avery George. After loading the bases with just one out, George hit one to the shortstop and the Wildcats managed to get the runner at second but George beat the throw down to first, allowing Snell (who led off with a single) to score from third.
 
Unfortunately, ACU responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1, and that is where the game remained as the two pitching staffs took control for the next three innings. Douthit kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard until he was lifted with one out in the sixth inning for Mize.
 
The Cardinals again jumped out in front with a run in the 7^th on a leadoff home run. Snell took the 1-0 offering from Morgan and delivered it over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. But just like in the third, the lead didn't last long as the Wildcats answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. After a leadoff double from Cameron Cromer, the Wildcats managed to drive him home with a single off the bat of Mitchell Dickson two batters later.  
 
The Wildcats threatened again in the bottom of the 8^th, with runners on the corners with just one out but Olivarez worked out of the jam. With a chance to give ACU it's first lead of the day, Cromer squared around to bunt but fouled out to Quirion at third. Just two pitches later, Olivarez got Alexei Cazarin to hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.
 
ACU scratched out the final run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the 9^th. With runners at the corners and just one out, LU elected to walk Tommy Cruz to set up the force at every base. Buckendorff struck out the next batter he faced but Eric Wimpee hit a 2-2 pitch right back up the middle plating the winning run.
 
The Cardinals will look to even the series in Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 1:35 p.m. from Crutcher Scott Field.