BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University scored runs in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings and never looked back as they picked up a 7-1 victory at Southeastern Louisiana Saturday afternoon to take the series. The Cardinals also tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth before the Lions could get on the board.
 
The victory pushes the Cardinals (24-18/8-9 SLC) win streak to three straight and four of their last five.
 
Sophomore Hunter Hesseltine (3-1) gave the Red and White another quality start going 6.1 innings allowing no runs while scattering six hits with two walks and three strikeouts to get the win. Hesseltine was one five pitchers to take the mound Saturday for the Cardinals.
 
The Lions went with Andrew Landry but he was removed in the fourth inning after giving up three earned runs on eight hits with two walks and a strikeout.
 
The Cardinals scored their seven runs on 15 hits with no errors, while the Lions scored one run on 10 hits with two errors.
 
Every Cardinal that came to the plate recorded a hit Saturday led by multi-hit games from four players – all at the bottom of the order – including three-hit games from Ethan Ruiz (3-for-5, 2 RBIs) and Kirkland Banks (3-for-4, walk, 2 RBIs).
 
The 5 – 9 spots went 11-for-23 (.478) with two walks, five RBIs and four runs scored.
 
The Cardinals got on the scoreboard in the second with one out in the inning. LU got consecutive singles from Kanin Dodge, Josh Blankenship and Tanner Wilson to score the first run of the game. Big Red followed that up with a two-out single from Ethan Ruiz for the second run of the day. Lamar had another three-hit inning in the fourth to make it a three-run lead.
 
The Cardinals hung a crooked number on the board in the fifth inning. With one out, LU loaded the bases for Wilson who drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Kirkland Banks followed two pitches later with a single through the left side scoring Dodge.
 
Lamar tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth to build a seven-run advantage. Southeastern managed to load the bases with two outs in the ninth and pushed a run across but it was too little too late as LU's bullpen recorded the final out.
 
The Cardinals will go for the series sweep Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch Pat Kennelly Diamond at Alumni Field.