BEAUMONT, Texas — McNeese broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the ninth inning to secure a 3-1 victory over Lamar University in Game 1 on Friday night at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Jarret Williams was dominant, retiring 18 of the 20 batters he faced while recording five strikeouts.

McNeese managed just two baserunners over the first six innings — a single in the first and a walk in the third.

The Cardinals had just two hits through the first five innings before A.J. Taylor led off the bottom of the sixth with a bunt single to third.

Beau Durbin followed with a hard ground ball past the shortstop to put runners at the corners, setting up a sacrifice fly to left by Hector Rodriguez that gave LU a 1-0 lead.

The Cowboys tied the game in the top of the seventh inning on a one-out RBI double to left-center by Larry Edwards Jr.

Lamar had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Easton Culp led off with a single through the right side.

Tab Tracy followed by drawing a four-pitch walk, and Braden Benton added a one-out walk to load the bases.

McNeese worked out of the jam by turning a double play.

The Cowboys put their first two batters aboard with back-to-back walks before Gage Trahan moved the runners over with a pinch-hit sacrifice bunt.

Marcus Heusohn was then intentionally walked to load the bases.

Edwards Jr. lined out to the pitcher, nearly doubling up the runner at third, before Bryce Fontenot was hit by a pitch to bring in the go-ahead run.

Connor Schneider followed by driving in another run on a fielder's choice to the pitcher.

RECORDS: McNeese (9-8, 4-3); LU (10-8, 4-3)

GAME NOTES

• Taylor, Durbin and Culp all finished 1 for 4 with a single.
• Benton was walked twice going 1 for 2 with a single.
• Benton has been walked a team-high 17 times.
• Rodriguez went 1 for 3 with a single and an RBI.
• Duran lengthened his on base streak to seven games after tallying a single to finish 1 for 3.
• Tracy extended his on base streak to nine games after drawing a walk in the eighth.
• Williams hasn't allowed an earned run in 18.2 consecutive innings.
• Julius Carpio struck out three batters in two innings of relief.

UP NEXT

The series continues with Game 2 taking place at 5:05 p.m. Saturday, March 14.