BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior Jacob Ellis took a no-hitter into the fifth inning and pitched 6.0 allowing just one run on one hit with three strike outs to lead Lamar University to a 4-2 home-opening victory over UT Arlington Friday evening at Vincent-Beck Stadium.
 
Ellis improved to 1-0 on the season and was one of three pitchers used on the night. Junior Austin Neal came on in the seventh inning and pitched 2.0 allowing one run on two hits with four punch outs. Junior Andres Perez came on in relief in the ninth an induced a double play with the bases loaded to end a threat and eventually pick up his second save of the season.
 
Lamar's offense recorded 11 hits on the night, led by multi-hit games from Luke Bumpus (3-for-4, RBI), River Orsak (2-for-4, run) and Brayden Evans (2-for-4, RBI, run).
 
UT Arlington's starter, Zach Norris, also pitched well enough to get the win, but was outdueled by Ellis. He pitched 5.0 scoreless frames before running into trouble in the sixth inning. The Cardinals got to Norris with two runs – one earned – in the inning before driving him from the game. He was relieved by Caden Noah who pitched 2.1 innings allowing two unearned runs on three hits.
 
UTA got on the board first with a fifth-inning two-out home run. At the time, the one-run seemed like a large lead based on the pitchers' performance, but the Cardinals would answer in the bottom half of the next inning with a two-out rally of their own.
 
Drake Varnado led off the inning with a double to left center. Zak Skinner followed up on the next pitch driving a ball through the right side that the rightfielder misplayed allowing Varnado to score from first. Bumpus then singled to center sending Skinner to the plate.
 
Big Red was back on the attack in the very next inning. With one out in the inning Orsak reached on an error, and again the Cardinals would take advantage of the miscue. Evans crushed a 3-1 pitch into the gap in left center scoring Orsak. Evans would score two batters later after Ricky Sanchez (pinch hitting) grounded out to third.
 
Lamar held UTA off the board until the ninth inning when the Mavericks loaded the bases with no out. Head coach Will Davis turned to the bullpen again to put out the fire. Perez came on to induce a double play on his third pitch. A run scored but LU gladly traded the run for two outs. Perez then got Tyce Armstrong to strike out swinging to end the game.
 
The Cardinals are back in action Saturday for the second game of the series. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium.