HOUSTON, Texas — After scoring seven runs across four straight innings, the Lamar University Cardinals rallied to get back into the win column.

On Tuesday night, the Cardinals defeated the Rice University Owls, 11-7, at Reckling Park.

The Cardinals struck early, scoring on an RBI single near the left field line off the bat of Zane Spinn in the top of the first.

LU pushed across three more runs in the second. Damian Ruiz brought in a run with an RBI double down the left field line to get things started.

Brayden Evans then hit a two-RBI single to center field to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Owls tied up the game in the bottom half of the second on three hits, which included a two-run home run.

Rice went up by two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

The Cardinals were unphased as they battled back in the top of the fifth. Ruiz led off the inning with a walk and then Evans followed up with a single.

Ruiz was able to score off a fielder's choice by Zak Skinner.

Heladio Moreno drew a one-out walk to load up the bases. Reese Beheler was then hit by a pitch to bring in the game-tying run.

Bryce Grizzaffi delivered the clutch go-ahead RBI single to center.

The Owls got a run back in the bottom of the fifth to tie up the score at 7-7.

Ruiz led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run to put the Cards ahead by one run.

Hector Rodriguez brought in Beheler on a fielder's choice to second in the seventh.

Evans and Spinn each homered in the eighth to add on two insurance runs to give the Cards a four-run lead.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Evans went 4 for 5 with three singles, a home run and three RBIs. Evans tallied his second four-hit game of the season.
• Evans leads the offense with three home runs.
• Ruiz extended his hitting streak to 14 games, going 2 for 5 with a double, home run, a walk and two RBIs.
• Ruiz leads the team with 26 hits and a .464 average. He is tied with Evans for the team-lead in RBIs with 14.
• Spinn tallied two singles and a home run to go 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Spinn has reached base safely in 14 straight games, leading LU with a .567 on-base percentage.
• Grizzaffi finished 3 for 5 with three singles and an RBI.
• Moreno and Beheler each tallied a single to go 1 for 4 and 1 for 3, respectively.
• LU used nine different pitchers that combined for eight strikeouts.
• Carter Sutton threw one scoreless inning without allowing a hit while he struck out two batters. Sutton is second on the team with 12 strikeouts.
• Hayden Stallings improved to 2-0 after throwing 2.1 innings allowing four hits with one strikeout.
• The Cardinals out-hit the Owls, 14-13.

UP NEXT

LU hosts Stephen F. Austin for a three-game series to resume Southland Conference play beginning Friday, March 7 at 7 p.m.