ABILENE, Texas – The final game of the series against Abilene Christian was a back-and-forth affair that went against Lamar University. Big Red dropped the final game of the series with a 7-5 decision at Crutcher Scott Field Sunday afternoon.
 
Junior Trevin Michael got the start and overcame a rocky 2^nd inning to pitch five strong innings allowing just three runs – all earned – on six hits with six strikeouts. The Wildcats only got to Michael in the third. Freshman Josh Ekness (1-3) took the loss after giving up two runs without surrendering an out in the 6^th. The Wildcats scored four of their seven runs in the final three innings.
 
Spencer Chirpich went 5.1 for ACU but didn't figure in the decision after allowing four runs – all earned – on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk. Max Hufling came on and pitched 2.1 innings of relief to pick up his sixth victory of the season.
 
Big Red finished the day with 13 hits, including three-hit days from Avery George and Kelby Weyler. Weyler ended the day with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Daniel Altman got the start at second and went 2-for-3 with a home run – his first career – a double and three RBIs.
 
The Wildcats struck first with a three-run bottom half of the second. After a leadoff double and a walk, ACU's Seth Randle broke the scoreless tie with a home run to right field. The homestanding Wildcats threatened for more but Michael limited the damage.
 
Big Red answered right back with a leadoff home run in the top half of the next inning. The solo shot came off from Altman. After a shutdown bottom of the 3^rd from Michael, Big Red was right back at it and again the big blow came from Altman.
 
With one out and runners on second and third, Altman smashed an 0-2 pitch into the gap in left center driving in both Deric LaMontagne and Kelby Weyler – who doubled just moments earlier – to tie the game at 3.
 
After being kept off the scoreboard in the 5^th, the Cardinals were back on the attack in the 6^th. Reese Durand led off the inning with a single and moved to second following the at-bat with LaMontagne. Weyler then stepped in and hit the first pitch he saw from Chirpich through the right side scoring Durand to give the Cardinals their first lead of the day. Unfortunately, the lead didn't last long as ACU bounced back in front in the bottom half of the inning. Following a leadoff walk, ACU's Grayson Tatrow homered to left center. ACU tacked on another run in the 7^th to build a two-run lead.
 
The Cardinals got one of those runs back in the eighth. After Weyler doubled to right center, he was able to get to third on the very next pitch – a wild pitch. Junior Logan LeJeune drove him home two pitches later, but the Wildcats got the run right back in their half of the inning and closed it out in the ninth.
 
Big Red will be back in action Friday when they return to Beaumont to close out the home portion of the 2021 schedule. The Cardinals will open their Senior Weekend series against New Orleans Friday, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium.