BEAUMONT, Texas – Senior Tanner Wilson pulled a pitch down the third base line scoring two with two outs in the ninth as Lamar University defeated McNeese, 4-3, Sunday at Vincent-Beck Stadium. The victory clinched the series for Lamar over their rivals from Lake Charles, La.
 
Wilson finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate and driving in three of the Cardinals four runs on the day. Senior Kanin Dodge was 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored to help LU improve to 25-6 on the season and remain in first place in the Southland Conference standings at 5-1.
 
Six different Cardinals got hits Sunday as LU scored their four runs on nine hits. Lamar was also charged with an error. The Cardinals scored a run in third and seventh innings and plated two more in the ninth. McNeese finished the day with three runs on seven hits and had an error. The Cowboys scored all their runs in the fifth inning.  
 
Hunter Hesseltine got the start and pitched 4.0 strong innings. He allowed just two runs – one earned – on five hits with four strike outs. He was removed in the fifth inning for Jackson Cleveland who struck out three in 3.0 innings of work allowing one unearned run on one hit. Kyle Moseley pitched a scoreless eighth and Andres Perez surrendered just a walk in the ninth to pick up his second victory over the year.
 
Alexis Gravel got the start for McNeese allowing just one run on five hits with four strikeouts. He also walked three Cardinals. He was one of three Cowboys to take the mound Sunday as Ty Abraham pitched 2.0 innings allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. JT Moeller (2-2) however took the loss pitching the final two-thirds giving up one run on two hits.
 
The Cardinals took the first lead of the game with a run in the third inning. Dodge led off the inning with a double to right center, and then promptly stole third. Brayden Evans drove him home four pitches later on a sacrifice fly to left.
 
The run stood as the lone dent in the scoreboard until the top of the fifth when McNeese scored three runs – one earned – on two hits and one costly error. Unfortunately, the error would prove costly in multiple ways. Ben David laid a bunt down the first base line which Hesseltine pounced on but bobbled the ball. Trying to pick up the ball again Hesseltine went to the ground.
 
Following the play, Hesseltine was relieved by Cleveland who hit the first batter he faced and then gave up a single to Cooper Hext scoring one. The next two McNeese runs scored on a fielder's choice and a passed ball.
 
After the fifth, Cleveland re-established order and hung zeros on the board before giving way to Moseley and eventually Perez. The Cardinals scratched out a run in the seventh on a Wilson single to center scoring Austin Roccaforte from second.
 
The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the ninth when Lamar had runners at second and third with two outs, and again it was Wilson in the spotlight. Wilson faced a 2-1 count before taking a pitch down the third base line passed a diving attempt from Chase Keeton. Both Jack Schell (who was inserted as a pinch hitter) and Roccaforte scored without a play at the plate.
 
The Cardinals will take a break from conference play Tuesday when they host Stephen F. Austin. The game against the Lumberjacks will begin at 6 p.m. from Vincent-Beck Stadium and will be streamed live on ESPN+.