BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University broke a close game open with a six-run eighth inning to defeat UIW, 11-3, Friday evening at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals take the series opener and improve to 32-8 (.800) overall and remain in first place in the Southland standings with a 10-3 (.769) league record.
 
Lamar scored their 11 runs on 14 hits and were charged with an error, while UIW's offense was held to three runs on six hits with two errors. The good guys scored their runs in the 4^th (1), 5^th (2), 7^th (2) and 8^th (6), while the league's other Cardinals scored two in the fifth and one in the seventh.
 
Senior Brooks Caple got the start and went 6.1 innings allowing three runs – two earned – on four hits with six strikeouts. He was one of four Cardinals to take the mound Friday as Kyle Moseley (3-0) pitched 1.1 innings of relief to get the win. Moseley only allowed a walk and hit a batter.
 
Josh Salinas got the start for UIW and surrendered three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts through 5.0 innings pitched. Salinas was lifted in the 6^th for Luis Rodriguez (0-1) who was hurt by a couple of costly errors. He gave up eight runs but only one was earned on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout. He also hit a batter and was charged with a balk.
 
Nine different Cardinals recorded hits Friday led by multi-hit efforts from Brayden Evans (2-for-3, RBI, run), River Orsak (3-for-4, 2 RBIs, run), Ethan Ruiz (2-for-4, RBI, 2 runs) and Drake Varnado (2-for-4, 2 runs).
 
The Cardinals will look to take the series in Game 2 Saturday. The game is slated for a 5 p.m. first pitch from Vincent-Beck Stadium.