HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar scored 11 runs on 12 hits to win a back-and-four contest defeating Houston Christian, 11-9, Sunday afternoon at Husky Field. The victory is Lamar 13^th consecutive, secured their third consecutive series sweep, moved the Cardinals to 19-4 (.826) on the season and more importantly into first place in the Southland Conference standings after the first week of league play.
 
The Cardinals scored in each of the first three innings and took an 8-3 lead before having to rally late for the win. Lamar did its damage with three runs in both the first and second innings, one in the third, one in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
 
Houston Christian scored nine runs on 14 hits and was charged with two errors. The Huskies scored two in the first, one in the second and scored six in the sixth to take a short-lived one-run lead.
 
Every Lamar starter got a hit led by multi-hit efforts from Brayden Evans (2-for-5, RBI, run), Zak Skinner (2-for-4, 2 RBIs, run) and Drake Varnado (2-for-4, run). Kanin Dodge, River Orsak and Ethan Ruiz each had one hit but each hit was a home run.
 
Despite a slow start, Hunter Hesseltine rallied to give the Cardinals 3.1 innings allowing three earned runs on eight hits with two strike outs and a walk, but he didn't figure into the decision. The Huskies managed just two hits off Hesseltine after the second inning.
 
Hesseltine was one of five pitchers to take the mound for Big Red Sunday. Kyle Moseley pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball to get the win (2-0) while Austin Neal pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save of the year.
 
Jarek Wells got the start for HCU but lasted just 12 pitches giving up three runs on two hits with a walk and a wild pitch. His teammates got him off the hook with the six-run sixth inning only to have Jackson Hamilton take the loss after surrendering  a run on three hits in 1.2 innings.
 
The first three Cardinal batters reached in the top of the first as Big Red took an early lead. Lamar got RBI singles from Evans and Skinner and took advantage of a wild pitch to hang a 3 on the scoreboard in their first at-bat. Unfortunately, the Cardinals weren't allowed to enjoy the lead for long as HCU answered with a single and a double to start their half of the first. The Huskies scored two runs on four hits to pull back within a run.
 
Big Red answered right back in the very next inning as they began playing a little long ball. With runners on first and third, Dodge took the first pitch he saw over the wall in left center. The three-run blast – Dodge's second of the season – gave the Cardinals a 6-2 lead. Lamar tacked on a solo shot from River Orsak in the third to make it 7-3 through 2.5.
 
The Huskies were threatening in the fourth inning with runners at the corners and just one out. Lamar went to the bullpen and brought in Foster Kreuzer who put out the fire by inducing a double play getting the Cardinals out of the inning and protecting the four-run advantage.
 
The Cardinals seemed to be in complete control heading into the bottom half of the sixth. After Lamar scratched out a run in the top half of the inning – to take an 8-3 lead - the Huskies came battling right back in the bottom half. The Huskies scored six runs with all six coming via the long ball – Ty Hodge (solo shot), Tyler LaRue (three-run) and a Parker Edwards (two run) to take their first lead of the game, 9-8.
 
It wouldn't take Lamar long to respond as the Cardinals took advantage of an HCU error to hang a three-spot on the board. Following the miscue, allowing Orsak to reach, Zak Skinner doubled to the wall in center scoring one. Four pitches later, Ethan Ruiz crushed a ball over the wall in left field – his first hit of the day – to give the Cardinals back a two-run lead, 11-9.
 
Lamar's bullpen took control after that holding the Huskies to just one hit in their final three at-bats.
 
The Cardinals will remain in the Bayou City for a Tuesday showdown with the University of Houston. The game against the Cougars is slated for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch from Schroeder Park and will be televised on ESPN+ via the Big 12 Network.