HOUSTON, Texas – Lamar University used a five-run fifth inning to blow open a close game defeating Rice, 8-4, Wednesday evening at Reckling Park. The victory moves LU to 37-10 on the season.
 
The Cardinals scored eight runs on 13 hits while Rice answered with four runs on nine hits and was charged with an error.
 
Seven different Cardinals recorded hits Wednesday led by multi-hit games from Zak Skinner (4-for-5, 2B, 2 RBIs, run), Weston Peninger (3-for-4, 2B, RBI, run) and Brayden Evans (2-for-5, HR, 2B, 2 RBIs). Six different Cardinals drove in a run Wednesday.
 
Nine different Cardinals took to the mound Wednesday on what was a bullpen night for both staffs. Kyle Moseley got the start and pitched a scoreless first before being lifted in the second. Peyton Havard (2-2) got the win after pitching two scoreless innings allowing just one hit with a strikeout.
 
Tucker Alchs took the loss for the Owls. He got the start and pitched 2.0 innings allowing two runs – one earned – on three hits with a strikeout. He was one five Owls to pitch.
 
Lamar got the scoring started with a run on two hits in the first inning. With two out in the inning, River Orsak singled right back up the middle driving in Evans from second. Big Red was back on the attack again in the second when Peninger singled up the middle scoring Austin Roccaforte to give LU a 2-0 lead.
 
Rice scratched out a run in its half of the second and the score remained 2-1 until the fifth when the Cardinals broke it open with five runs on four hits.
 
Peninger led things off with a double before coming home two batters later on Evans' ninth home run of the season. The next two batters walked and Zak Skinner drove in the third run of the inning with a double to right, followed by a Roccaforte sacrifice fly to right field. Senior Ethan Ruiz brought home the final run of the inning with a single to left off Tyler Hamilton – the Owls' third pitcher of the inning.
 
Rice didn't score again until the seventh inning, and the Owls managed to make it interesting late with solo runs in each of the final three innings. Lamar also scratched out a run in the top of the ninth never allowing the outcome to be in serious jeopardy.
 
The Cardinals will now turn their focus to a weekend showdown between the top two teams in the league as the Cards travel to Thibodaux, La., to face Nicholls. The three-game series gets under way Friday with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.