BEAUMONT, Texas — Lamar University struck first Wednesday night against Rice, but the Owls rallied to claim a 4-1 win at Vincent‑Beck Stadium.

Beau Durbin opened the bottom of the first with a triple to left‑center, and A.J. Taylor brought him home with a groundout to short for a 1-0 lead.

Rice responded in the top of the third, putting its first two hitters on with a walk and a bunt single.

J.C. Davis advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Paul Smith followed with a two‑run double to center to give the Owls the lead.

Despite leaving 12 runners on base — including stranding the bases loaded twice — Rice added insurance in the eighth with a sacrifice fly by Davis and an LU defensive miscue, extending the advantage to the final margin.

RECORDS: LU (8-5); Rice (7-6)

GAME NOTES

• LU out-hit Rice, 9-5.
• Durbin extended his hitting streak to 13 games going 1 for 4 with a triple and a run scored.
• Durbin has a team-best .389 average, 21 hits, two triples, five doubles, 1.070 on base + slugging percentage, .611 slugging percentage and .459 on base percentage.
• Durbin has gone 8 for 18 (.444) in his last four games.
• Taylor had two singles and an RBI to finish 2 for 4. Taylor lengthened his on base streak to 13 games.
• Braden Benton is also on a 13-game on base streak after tallying a single to go 1 for 4.
• Tab Tracy and Kevin Duran each finished 1 for 4 with a single.
• Balen Valentine went 1 for 3 with a single and a walk.
• Brayden Evans had a double to finish 1 for 4.
• Hector Rodriguez delivered a pinch-hit single to go 1 for 2.

UP NEXT

LU resumes Southland Conference play by traveling to Nacogdoches for a three-game series with Stephen F. Austin beginning Friday at 6 p.m.