NATCHITOCHES, La. — As the race for the top spot in the Southland Conference continues to heat up, the Lamar University Cardinals defeated Northwestern State, 8-2, to extend their winning streak to six games Thursday night at Brown-Stroud Field.

LU got things started early in the top of the first with an RBI double to right center by Zak Skinner.

The Demons tied things up in the bottom of the second with a solo home run to right center from Clay Jung.

Bryce Grizzaffi hit a one-out infield single in the top of the third. Heladio Moreno then brought him in with an RBI single through the right side to put the Cards ahead 2-1.

With the bases loaded, Tab Tracy and Reese Beheler both drew a walk to extend the lead to 4-1.

LU pushed across its fourth run of the inning as Zane Spinn scored on a wild pitch.

Tab Tracy made the score 6-1 with an RBI single to left in the top of the fifth.

Matt Ryan hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth that went 395 feet over the left field wall.

After five straight scoreless innings, Northwestern State pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth on an error.

Skinner tallied his second RBI of the night after hitting a single through the right side to bring in Brayden Evans in the top of the ninth.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Skinner finished 2 for 4 with a single, double, a walk and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He has nine RBIs in his last five games combined.
• Tracy went 1 for 4 with a single, a walk and two RBIs.
• Ruiz extended his hitting streak to 22 games and his on base streak to 39 games by going 1 for 5 with a single and a stolen base.
• Evans tallied a single to go 1 for 4 with a walk.
• Moreno finished 1 for 5 with a single and an RBI.
• Ryan hit his fourth home run of the season going 1 for 4 with an RBI. He extended his on base streak to 15 games.
• Chris Olivier improved to 5-1 after he went 5.1 innings allowing one earned run with four strikeouts.
• Peyton Havard picked up his fourth save after he went 3.2 innings with six strikeouts.
• The LU pitching staff tallied 10 strikeouts marking the 16th game with 10 or more strikeouts.

UP NEXT

Game 2 is set for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on Friday, April 18.