ABILENE, Texas – It took nearly three hours for Lamar University and Abilene Christian to step on the field Friday evening – due to lightning – but the Cardinals took care of their hosts, 17-9, Friday evening at Crutcher Scott Field. 
 
The Cardinals (31-19/15-10 WAC) pounded out 17 runs on 20 hits, including eight runs in the first three innings. ACU scored nine runs on 10 hits. 
 
Every Cardinal recorded at least one hit Friday, including seven multi-hit performances. Junior Ryan Snell led the way with a 4-for-5 performance with an RBI and two runs scored. Kevin Bermudez was 3-for-5 with a home run, double, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Josh Blankenship was 3-for-6 with a home run, double and six RBIs.
 
Braxton Douthit got the start and went 4.1 innings surrendering five runs on four hits with two strikeouts. He was lifted in the fifth for Daniel Cole who pitched 3.2 of relief allowing just one earned run on four hits to pick up the win.
 
Tyler Morgan got the start for ACU but struggled from the start. He lasted 2.0 innings allowing six runs – all earned – on seven hits. He was one of five Wildcats to pitch Friday evening's game which went into the early morning hours.
 
After a nearly three-hour lighting delay, Bermudez provided the thunder in the top of the first to hand Big Red the early lead. He took the second pitch he saw over the wall for his fifth blast of the season. The Cardinals took one-run advantage into the second where they extended their lead with a four-run inning. 
 
After Weyler led off the second by getting plunked, Josh Blankenship followed with a single (scoring Weyler) and a Ryan Snell single (scoring Blankenship). After consecutive strikeouts, it was Bermudez digging in again to provide a key hit. He doubled down the left field line – one of three doubles in the inning – to plate Snell. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Bermudez came around to score on Kemp's double.
 
The Cardinals made it an eight-run lead before ACU mounted a rally. The Wildcats scored two in the fourth and followed up with three in the fifth to trim the deficit to three runs, but the Cardinals responded in a big way.
 
Big Red scored five runs in their half of the sixth inning including a Durand double and a three-run home run off the bat of Blankenship. It was Blankenship's fourth home run of the season and it cleared the wall in left center to give the Cards an eight-run lead. 
 
The Wildcats would tack on another run in the bottom half of the fifth, and then the bullpens took control of the game into the ninth. Big Red applied the knockout punch with four runs on two hits, including a two-RBI single from Blankenship in the top of the ninth.
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday for the second game of the series. Game 2 is slated to begin at 3:05 p.m. from Crutcher Scott Field.