SUGAR LAND, Texas – It was another quick start for the Lamar University baseball team as they scored four runs in the first inning, to go along with another strong performance from to defeat UTSA, 5-3, Sunday afternoon on the final day of the Sugar Land Classic.
 
The Cardinals (5-2), who have now scored seven runs in the first inning of their last two games, got 12 hits from seven different players, including multi-hit games from River Orsak (3-for-3, RBI, run), Zak Skinner (3-for-4) and Luke Bumpus (2-for-4, RBI).
 
Hunter Hesseltine got the start and gave the Red and White 5.2 innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits. He also struck out four Roadrunners with just one walk. He was relieved in the sixth inning by Kyle Moseley. The junior lefty went an 1.2 of scoreless baseball with a strikeout before handing things over to Andres Perez in the eighth. Perez needed just 27 pitches to clear an 1.2 with two punch outs, and a walk, for his first save of the season.  
 
In an almost mirror image of Saturday's contest, the Cardinals jumped out to an early lead in the first – all of it coming with two outs in the inning. Brayden Evans and Orsak got things started with walks setting the stage for Ethan Ruiz. The senior doubled down the left field line scoring both runners.
 
Drake Varnado then followed suit with a double after falling behind in the count to score Ruiz. That hit forced a pitching change but the Cardinals stayed on the attack. Lamar got singles from Luke Bumpus and Zak Skinner to close out inning with a four spot.
 
The Roadrunners answered with a run in their half of the second, but Lamar got the run right back in its half of the inning. Kanin Dodge led off the inning with a double to right center. It appeared Dodge might be stranded as UTSA got the next two batters out but Orsak took an 0-2 pitch right back up the middle to score Dodge.
 
UTSA got two runs back in the top of the fourth when Aidan Baumann took a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall trimming the deficit to 5-3, but that would be all of the scoring as the pitchers on both sides took over.
 
UTSA was sat down in three of the final five innings but got a one-out walk in the ninth that amounted to nothing.
 
The Cardinals return to action Tuesday when they travel to College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M. The game against the Aggies has been moved to a 6 p.m. first pitch.