SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Lamar University scored three runs in the first two innings and never looked back taking a 6-1 victory over UIW Sunday afternoon and Sullivan Field. The Cardinals took the series finale to move to 19-16 overall on the season and improve to 5-7 in a tightly packed Southland Conference race.
 
The Cardinals did their damage in the first two innings and tacked on another two-run inning in the sixth, and one more in the ninth. Big Red finished day with six runs on seven hits, while UIW scored just one run on three hits and was charged with three errors. UIW's lone run came in the fifth inning.
 
Sophomore Hunter Hessletine (2-1) went the distance to record the win, allowing just one the one earned while striking out nine batters with just one walk.
 
Micah Berens got the start for the Southland's other Cardinals going 5.2 while surrendering five runs, three earned with two walks and two strikes outs to suffer the loss (2-1). He was one of three UIW pitchers to take the mound Sunday.
 
Five different LU Cardinals recorded hits Sunday led by multi-hit efforts from Ethan Ruiz (2-for-4, RBI) and Kanin Dodge (2-for-4, run). Six different Cardinals drove in a run for the Red and White.
 
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard with two runs in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Big Red took advantage of three UIW errors including two on consecutive plays at first, followed by an error on an Orsak stolen base.
 
Hesseltine sat UIW down in order in the top of the first to quickly get Big Red back to the plate and the Cardinals took advantage by tacking on another run. Dodge led off the second with a double to left field. After being sacrificed over to third Dodge came home to score on a Tanner Wilson chopper to short.
 
UIW finally was able to get on the board with a run in the fifth, but the run didn't spark a rally as LU answered right back with two more in the sixth and one in the ninth.
 
Hesseltine kept San Antonio's version of the Cardinals guessing all game long as he sat UIW down in order through the first four innings not allowing a hit until the fifth. In fact, the fifth was the only inning where UIW managed to get runners on base as Hesseltine sat UIW down in order in eight of the nine frames.
 
The Cardinals return to action Tuesday when they travel to Fort Worth to take on TCU. The game against the Horned Frogs will begin at 6 p.m.