Box Score HOUSTON, Texas – It took a four-run eighth inning for Rice to salvage one game of the three-game series defeating Lamar University, 8-6, Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park. The Cardinals (4-3) won the series which saw Rice hold a lead for a total of two innings in the three games.
 
Sophomore Jacob Ellis got the start and went 3.0 strong innings of scoreless baseball. Max Mize came on in relief in the fifth inning for Benjamin Content and surrendered three runs but got the Cardinals out of the inning with the lead. 
 
Ellis was one of our Cardinals to take the mound Sunday as Landon Odom took the loss after pitching 0.2 of an inning but surrendered the home run in the eighth. He was responsible for only one run as he inherited three baserunners
 
Thomas Burbank got the start for the Owls and went 4.2 surrendering five runs on seven hits with five walks. He also struck out two batters on the afternoon. Brandon Deskins pitched 1.1 in relief to get the victory.
 
 The Cardinals collected 10 hits on the day, as seven different players got in the act. Kevin Bermudez, Kelby Weyler and Ethan Ruiz each recorded two hits Sunday. Five different Cardinals ended the day with an RBI.
 
The game was scoreless heading into the fourth when both teams scratched out a run. We appeared to be heading to the bottom of the fifth inning tied at 1, when Kemp drew a two-out walk. The Cardinals took full advantage of the inning being extended by recording a double, two triples and taking advantage of a wild pitch to plate four runs.
 
Josh Blankenship drove Chase Kemp home on a double to center and was followed by triples from Weyler and Matthew McDonald. McDonald eventually came home on a wild pitch to Ruiz. The Cardinals sent five to the plate after there were two out in the inning.
 
Unfortunately, the momentum was only temporary, as Rice answered back with three runs in their half of the fifth. After getting the first batter to pop out to second, the Owls got three consecutive singles to rally back with one, 5-4.
 
The Cardinals managed to get one run back in their half of the seventh. After Rice got the first batter of the inning out, Blankenship and Weyler drew walks, and with two outs Ruiz singled to center scoring Blankenship from second.
 
Unfortunately, that set stage for Rice who managed to load the bases in their half of the eight and recorded their biggest hit of the series – a four-run blast to center off the bat of Austin Bulman which held for the final score.
 
The Cardinals will look to bounce back Tuesday when they travel back down I-10 to face Houston. The game against the Cougars will kick off at 6:30 p.m. from Schroeder Park.