HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Lamar University scored seven unanswered run, including six with two outs, to battle back from a five-run deficit to win the first game at Sam Houston Friday evening, 8-7. Max Mize (2-0) came on in relief in the fifth inning and pitched four strong innings of one run ball to pick up the win.
 
The Cardinals scored their eight runs on 14 hits, while Sam Houston plated seven runs on 14 hits with an error. Both teams had numerous opportunities to score more runs as they combined to strand 17 runners.
 
Eight different Cardinals got a hit Friday, including five players who recorded multi-hit efforts. Junior Josh Blankenship led the way with a 3-for-5 effort – including the game-winning RBI – from the eight hole. Kirkland Banks, Kelby Weyler, Ryan Snell and Kevin Bermudez each added two hits (Bermudez recorded a double and a triple on the night).
 
It was an inauspicious start for Douthit and the Cardinals who found themselves in an early hole. Sam Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring five runs on six hits in their half of the first. Despite the atypical start from Douthit, he settled down and held Sam Houston at bay until the offense could rally.
 
Davis' Cardinals didn't panic but went work chipping away at the lead. In the Big Red half of the second, the Cardinals loaded the bases with two out. Banks got the Cardinals on the scoreboard with a single up the middle, 5-1. Kemp then took the first pitch he saw right back up the middle as well plating two to pull LU within two.
 
While the offense was cutting into the lead in the top half of the inning, the defense was flashing some leather in the bottom half to turn away potential big innings from the Bearkats. The Cardinals turned three double plays on the night and got a nice diving catch from Reese Durand in center field.
 
The Cardinals were on the march again in the fourth when they scored two more runs on a two-out double off the bat of Weyler to tie the game. LU kept up the pressure in the next inning when Snell led off with a double. After an attempted sacrifice bunt went awry allowing Durand to reach safely and Snell to come around to score from second, the Cardinals claimed their first lead of the game, 6-5. The Cardinals tacked on another run after Ethan Ruiz was hit by a pitch and Bermudez followed that with a triple to right center on a 1-2 pitch.
 
Sam Houston's starter struggled as well, after being gifted five early runs. Matt Dillard went 5.0 innings but surrendered seven runs – all earned – on 10 hits. Braden Davis took the loss after giving one earned run in 1.1 innings pitched.
 
The Bearkats managed to battle back to tie the game at 7 with a solo runs in 5^th and 7^th, and the score remained tied until the top half of the 9^th when Big Red jumped back in front. After a Snell led off the inning with a double, Josh Blankenship drove the run in with a single through the right side.
 
After the Cardinals took back the lead, Davis turned things over to the school's all-time leader in saves and senior Jack Dallas didn't disappoint. The Orange, Texas native, pitched a scoreless ninth striking out two for the save.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday for game two of the series against Sam Houston. The second game is slated for a 3 p.m. start from Don Sanders Stadium.