SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lamar University rallied for three runs, including a Ryan Snell home run, in the ninth inning at UIW but Big Red fell short to San Antonio's version of the Cardinals, 9-7. The loss drops LU to 18-15 on the season and 4-6 in Southland Conference play.
 
The Cardinals scored their seven runs on eight hits but were charged with three errors. UIW scored nine runs on 16 hits and also ended with three errors. Six different players recorded a hit for the Cardinals including multi-hit games from Ryan Snell (2-for-4), including his league-leading 12^th home run of the season and Ethan Ruiz (2-for-4, home run, 2 RBIs).
 
Brooks Caple got the start and went 6.0 innings scattering nine hits with just two runs (one earned). He also struck out three batters. Jackson Cleveland pitched the eighth inning but gave up six runs to took the loss (3-3).
 
Kayden Stacy started for UIW allowing 7 hits and four earned runs in 7.0 innings with four strikeouts. He was replaced in the eighth inning by Stacey Otto who allowed two runs on two walks with no hits  but was the pitcher of record and improves to 2-0 on the season.
 
After UIW took a one-run lead in the first, Lamar rallied for two in the top of the third. With one out and runners on first and second, Ben MacNaughton doubled to left center to score both Kevin Bermudez and River Orsak.
 
The one-run lead existed until the sixth when the Cardinals tacked on another two spot with some two-out damage. Kanin Dodge got things started with an infield hit and advanced to third on a throwing error by the pitcher. Two pitches later Ruiz crushed one over the wall in left center to give LU a 4-1 lead.
 
UIW managed to score a solo run in the sixth and seventh to pull within a run, but struck for six runs in the bottom half of the eighth to take a five-run lead. The Cardinals responded in the top of the ninth with three runs including a two-run shot from Snell but it wasn't enough as UIW held on for the lead.
 
The Cardinals return to action for the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.