HAMMOND, La. – UIW scored three runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth to rally for a 6-3 victory over Lamar University on the opening day of the 2024 Southland Conference Championships from Pat Kenelly Diamond in Hammond, La.
 
The Cardinals (41-14) carried a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning before UIW rallied for three runs on three hits. It was the first of consecutive three-run innings for UIW.
 
LU finished the game with three runs on six hits scoring solo runs in the first, fourth and eighth innings. UIW answered with six runs on six hits scoring three in the eighth and ninth innings.
 
Senior Brooks Caple went 7.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out six and walking two. He was one of three Cardinals to pitch Wednesday. Austin Neal pitched 0.2 of an inning and Andres Perez went 1.0 inning allowing three runs on one hit with a strike out.
 
UIW (26-29) countered with Josh Salinas who went 7.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts but walked seven batters. He gave way to Adam Byrd in the eighth who pitched the final 2.0 innings striking out three and walking one.
 
Five different Cardinals recorded hits Wednesday led by a multi-hit game from Kanin Dodge. The Carencro, La., native went 2-for-3 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
 
After getting the first two runners on in the home half of the first, Zak Skinner brought in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Caple took advantage of the one-run lead allowing just one hit through first 4.2 innings.
 
Big Red made it a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the fourth when they scored one run on two hits. Following a one-out single right back up the middle off the bat of Ethan Ruiz, Dodge doubled down the right field line scoring Ruiz from first.
 
The Cardinals carried the lead into the top of the eighth inning which is where UIW began its rally. UIW got the first two runners aboard, but after a lengthy review UIW was called for interference. San Antonio's version of the Cardinals would go on to score three runs on three hits to take their first lead of the game.
 
Their momentum was short lived as LU answered back in the bottom half of the inning. Big Red had 1^st and 3^rd with just one out in the inning and tied the game up on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ruiz.
 
San Antonio's version of the Cardinals came right back with three runs in the top of the ninth. After getting two on, Cameron Caley took a pitch over the wall in left center to give UIW back the lead. Lamar was unable to respond in the bottom of the ninth.
 
The Cardinals will now turn their attention to No. 4-seed Northwestern State. The elimination game against the Demons is slated for a 9 a.m. first pitch Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.