Box Score BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University finished day with 26 runs on 24 hits and got strong pitching to sweep a doubleheader from Mount St. Mary's Saturday afternoon at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The Cardinals took the first game, 12-1, and came right back in the second to post a 14-5 decision.
 
Adam Wheaton gave the Cardinals (7-4) 6.0 strong innings and held the Mountaineers at bay until the bats could get going in game one. Wheaton (2-0) picked up the win after holding The Mount to just one run – unearned – on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Wheaton was one of just three Cardinals to pitch in the first game as Max Mize went 2.0 scoreless with a strikeout and John Altman pitched a scoreless ninth striking out the side.
 
The Cardinals collected 12 runs on 12 hits as they forced the Mount's starter out of the game after just 3.0 innings of work. Ryan Ament (0-1) took the loss after giving up three runs on one hit to go along with two walks.
 
Nine different Cardinals recorded a hit in game one, as Chase Kemp (2-for-2, 3 runs), Matthew McDonald (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run) and Nathan Carriere (2-for-3, 1 run) each collected two hits. Five different players drove in a run, including two RBI-efforts from McDonald, Josh Blankenship and Kelby Weyler.
 
The Mount plated a run in the top half of the first and their lead held until the bottom of the fourth when the Cardinals plated four. Big Red's three run lead lasted until the seventh when LU tacked on a seven-run inning, followed by a single run in the eighth.
 
The second game also saw an LU comeback, but it was more dramatic. After The Mount scored two in the second and third to build a four-run lead, it was time for the Cardinal bats to answer. Big Red cut the deficit in half in third after loading the bases for Blankenship who roped a 1-1 pitch to left field scoring two. The Cardinals got the equalizer in their half of the fourth on a two-run double off the bat of Monray Van Der Walt.
 
After The Mount reclaimed a one-run advantage in their half of the sixth, the Cardinals broke the game open in the seventh. Big Red exploded for eight runs on five hits, two walks, a hit batter and an error to take a 12-5 lead. The frame saw LU record two singles, two doubles and two triples. The Cardinals tacked on a two-run homer from Matthew McDonald in the eighth inning for the final score.
 
The lead was too much for the visitors to overcome as LU swept the doubleheader and took the series.
 
Jacob Ellis got the start in the second game but went just 2.0 innings and was charged with the four runs. Ellis was one of six pitchers to be used in the second game as Joe Buckendorff came on with two outs in the sixth to pick up the win. Buckendorff (1-0) pitched an inning and a third of scoreless ball before handing it over to Michael Barta and Josh Ekness. The final three pitchers for the Cardinals went 3.1 innings allowing just two hits and striking out two.
 
Cooper Adams (0-1) took the loss for the Mountaineers giving up seven runs – six earned – on four hits with two walks all in the seventh inning. Adams failed to record an out.
 
Big Red scored their 14 runs on 12 hits as every starter collected a hit. Blankenship finished the second game 2-for-4 with a run scored and five RBIs, while Weyler was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in.
 
The Cardinals will go in search of the sweep Sunday when they close the series with an 11 a.m. first pitch from Vincent-Beck Stadium.