HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University got a ninth-inning home run from Reese Durand to tie the game and scored two runs in the 11^th to rally for an 8-6 victory over Rice Saturday afternoon at Reckling Park.
 
Senior Jack Dallas came on and pitched the final four innings in relief to pick up the victory, after a strong start from Adam Wheaton. The Kalamazoo, Mich., native went 6.2 strong innings surrendering just two runs – both earned – on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks.
 
Six Cardinals finished the day with at least two hits, including three who recorded three-hit performances (Kevin Bermudez, Durand and Kelby Weyler). Both Bermudez and Durand were 3-for-5 with two runs batted in and two scored. Weyler went 3-for-6 with two RBIs on the afternoon.
 
Rice's Roel Garcia got the start and went 4.1 but was pulled after surrendering two runs – both earned – on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Tom Vincent came on in the 11^th and pitched two-thirds of an inning surrendering both runs on two hits to take the loss.
 
The Cardinals (4-2) broke the scoreless tie in the top half of the fourth with three singles, with the Matthew McDonald producing the run. The fourth kicked off a stretch of three-straight innings where LU would plate at least one run.
 
Big Red's one-run advantage wouldn't last long as Rice answered back with two in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead of the game. The Owls got a two-out hit off the bat of Aaron Smigelski to take the lead, their first of the series.
 
The Cardinals were undaunted bouncing right back with a run in the top of the fifth off Weyler. After a Durand double and a Ryan Snell walk, Weyler came to the plate with two outs. He drove the ball into center scoring Durand from second base.  
 
After sitting the Owls down in order in the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals were back on the attack in the sixth. McDonald reach on an error, and after Kirkland Banks was retired, the Cardinals got hits from Ben MacNaughton and a triple from Burmudez for the first two runs of the inning. Durand then capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the eighth when the Owls caught a break and took advantage. Rice's Manny Garza appeared to strikeout for the second out of the inning, but the ball got away from Snell and Garza reached. Following a walk and a strikeout, Smigelski singled to left, and the Owls scored two following an error. Drew Woodcox followed with another two-out hit to give Rice back a one-run advantage heading into the ninth inning.
 
The Red and White refused to go quietly getting a leadoff homer from Durand to right field. With one out, the Cardinals were threatening again with a double off the bat of Snell but the Cardinals were unable to bring him around.
 
After a scoreless 10^th, the Cardinals were back on the attack again in the top of the 11^th. After a single from Bermudez to lead off the inning, the Cardinals got doubles from Kemp and Weyler to reclaim the lead, 8-6.
 
The Owls attempted to rally in their half of the 11^th, with a couple of one-out hits, but closer Jack Dallas struck out the last two batters he faced to preserve the win.
 
The Cardinals will go in search of the series sweep Sunday. First pitch is slated for a 1 p.m. start from Reckling Park.