Box Score BEAUMONT, TEXAS – Senior pitcher Jacob Ellis pitched 9.0 innings of no-hit baseball to lead Lamar University to a 1-0 victory in 11 innings Saturday evening at Vincent-Beck Stadium. Ellis combined with Austin Neal as the Cardinals pitched an 11-inning combined no-hitter as Neal finished off the final two innings for the Red and White. Neal was credited with the victory to move to 2-0 on the season.
 
A seventh-inning walk was all that separated Ellis from perfection as he ended the night with nine strike outs as the Cardinals (24-6/4-1 SLC) evened the series with the rival Cowboys. Neal closed out the final two innings with two strikeouts. As a team, the Cardinals' staff allowed just two walks and struck out 11 batters.
 
The marathon ended in the 11^th inning when the Cardinals managed to load the bases for Luke Bumpus with just one out in the inning. Bumpus drew a seven-pitch walk to bring in the game's loan run.
 
The Cardinals defense also came up with several great plays in the latter stages of the game to preserve the no-no. McNeese's Cooper Hext hit a line drive that was sinking quickly on Bumpus in right field. Bumpus charged and made a late stab at the ball to pick it before it hit the ground.
 
The following inning, Kanin Dodge was put to the test on back-to-back plays. McNeese's led off with Braden Duhon who hit a slow chopper just over the outstretched arm of Neal. Dodge charged the ball and fielded it in front of second base firing a cannon across the diamond to beat the runner.
 
On the very next play, Dodge was forced to range deep into the hole snagging a high bounce and again firing a strike across the diamond to setup the 11^th inning walk off.  
 
Lamar's seven hits on the night came from five different batters. Senior Austin Roccaforte led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 effort.
 
Both starting pitchers were good enough to get the win Saturday, and neither figured in the decision. Zach Voss started for McNeese and gave the Cowboys 7.1 strong innings allowing just five hits and two walks with two strikeouts. He was one of three Cowboys to take the mound as Daelan Caraway pitched the final 2.1 for McNeese allowing one run on two hits with two costly walks.
 
The Cardinals return to the diamond for the rubber game of the series Sunday. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Newstalk 560 KLVI and streamed live on ESPN+.