SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lamar University carried a one-run lead into the fifth inning but the other Cardinals rallied for five runs in the late innings (2 – 5^th, 2 – 6^th, 1 – 7^th). UIW defeated Lamar, 5-1, Saturday afternoon in San Antonio.
 
The Cardinals scored their lone run on seven hits, while UIW scored five runs on 10 hits and was charged with an error. Four different Cardinals recorded hits led by multi-hit games from Kevin Bermudez (2-for-4, walk), Ben MacNaughton (2-for-3, walk, RBI, stolen base) and River Orsak (2-for-4, run).
 
Jacob Ellis (2-2) got the start and cruised through four scoreless innings before running into some trouble in the fifth. He managed to escape the fifth allowing just two runs but another two-run inning in the sixth forced a move to the bullpen. He ended the day allowing four earned runs on eight hits in his 5.0 innings with three strikeouts.
 
Patrick Hail came on in relief in the sixth and was one of four pitchers out of the Cardinals' pen. LU's bullpen pitched the final three innings allowing just one run on three hits.
 
Isaiah Zavala got the start for UIW and he went 6.2 allowing just the one run on six hits to get the win.
 
The good guys got on the scoreboard first with a solo run in the third. With runners on first (Bermudez) and second (Orsak) and just one out Ben MacNaughton singled the second pitch he saw to left field scoring Orsak.
 
Ellis made the one-run advantage to stand through 4.0 innings before running into some trouble in the fifth. After Ellis got the first batter of the inning to ground out to short, UIW responded with three consecutive hits, including a two-run home run from Sterling Sutcliff. UIW added two more runs (on five hits) in the fifth to take three-run lead, 4-1, heading into the seventh. The hometown Cardinals closed out the scoring with a final run in the seventh. LU was unable to respond in its final two at-bats.
 
The Cardinals will look to take the third game of the series Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch from Sullivan Field. Sunday's game is scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+.