BEAUMONT, Texas — Down 9-8 in the bottom of the ninth, Heladio Moreno was facing an 0-2 count with two outs and runners at first and third.

Moreno hit his first home run of the season to help Lamar University defeat Houston Christian, 11-9, on Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

This is the seventh walk-off win for the Cards. LU has now won 10 straight games at home.

The game was scoreless until Matthew Leiterman scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third to put the Huskies ahead.

LU sent 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the third to rally for seven runs on six hits.

Bryce Grizzaffi hit a leadoff single up the middle and then Moreno followed up with a single through the left side.

Damian Ruiz was hit by a pitch to load up the bases.

Matt Ryan delivered a two-RBI single through the left side. Brayden Evans then extended the lead to 5-1 with a three-run home run to right center.

Reese Beheler kept the inning going by hitting an infield single to short and then Zak Skinner singled to right.

Zane Spinn later brought in a run on a fielder's choice to short.

The final run of the inning came off a fielder's choice to short by Grizzaffi, making the score 7-1.

Tevis Payne scored on a double play in the top of the fourth to cut Houston Christian's deficit to five.

The Cards added a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single through the right side by Spinn.

Mother nature had other plans for the contest as thunderstorms moved into the area prompting a nearly two-hour delay.

Houston Christian cut the deficit to five runs on an RBI single to right by Payne in the top of the seventh.

The Huskies rallied back in the top of the eighth to get to within two runs.

Leiterman highlighted the rally with a two-RBI single to left center while Trevor Roper brought in a run on a groundout to third.

Houston Christian turned the tide in the top of the ninth when it loaded up the bases with one out.

Katcher Halligan was hit by a pitch to cut the deficit to one run.

Leiterman then delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to give the Huskies a 9-8 lead.

Tab Tracy drew a walk to start the bottom of the ninth while Hector Rodriguez came off the bench to deliver a pinch-hit single to left center, moving Tracy to third.

After five hours and nine minutes, the Cards were celebrating the victory after Moreno's clutch home run.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Moreno finished 2 for 4 with a single, home run, a walk and three RBIs.
• Spinn went 2 for 5 with two singles, two stolen bases and two RBIs.
• Beheler had two singles to go 2 for 5 with a run scored.
• Skinner extended his on base streak to 13 games by going 1 for 5 with a single.
• Evans finished 1 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. He now has a team-high nine home runs while he also carries an 11-game on base streak.
• Grizzaffi went 1 for 4 with a single and an RBI. He extended his on base streak to 10 games.
• Ryan ended up going 1 for 2 with a single, three walks and two RBIs.
• Ruiz finished 1 for 4 with a single and a run scored. Ruiz tied the single season program record for runs scored with 73 alongside Tyler Link who set the record in 2009.
• Chris Olivier started the contest, throwing 4.1 innings allowing three hits with five strikeouts.
• Austin Neal improved to 2-1 after pitching one inning with one strikeout.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals conclude the series with Game 3 at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 10.