NEW ORLEANS, La. — Lamar University put together its highest‑scoring game of the season to defeat New Orleans, 20-1, in seven innings Sunday afternoon at Maestri Field.

The Cardinals claimed the series two games to three, remaining tied for first place in the Southland Conference with Southeastern Louisiana.

LU jumped out to a commanding start, scoring seven runs in the first inning.

Tab Tracy and Beau Durbin opened the frame with back‑to‑back singles before Hector Rodriguez drove in a run on a fielder's choice.

A.J. Taylor followed with a two‑RBI double to left center, and Brayden Evans extended the rally with a two‑out, three‑run home run to right field.

Tracy capped the inning with an RBI single to left center.

Taylor added to the lead in the top of the second with a two‑run home run to left, giving the Cardinals a 9-0 advantage. 

New Orleans answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Josh Hoffman recorded a one‑out RBI single to right for the Privateers' lone run.

LU responded in the third when Durbin drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left.

The Cardinals extended their lead in the top of the fifth, pushing the margin to 11 runs.

Durbin brought in Tracy with a groundout to short, and Braden Benton followed with an RBI double down the right field line.

LU added two more runs in the sixth, as Kevin Duran delivered an RBI double to left center.

Balin Valentine followed by plating Duran with a two‑out RBI double to left field, making the score 14-1.

The floodgates broke open in the seventh inning as the Cardinals scored six runs on four hits, sending 12 batters to the plate.

Reese Beheler ignited the rally with a single while Jake Wagoner and Rodriguez followed with back‑to‑back walks to load the bases.

Easton Culp was hit by a pitch to force in a run before Taylor collected his fifth hit and fifth RBI of the afternoon with a single to shallow left.

Cade Pregeant came off the bench to deliver a pinch‑hit RBI single to shallow right.

Ayden Sunday and Jose Vargas then drew consecutive walks with the bases loaded, and Beheler capped the inning by driving in a run with a single through the right side.

RECORDS: LU (24-20, 16-8); New Orleans (18-28, 8-16)

GAME NOTES

• The Cardinals tallied 19 hits, including six doubles.
• LU combined to tally 42 hits, six home runs and eight doubles during the series.
• Taylor finished 5 for 5 with a single, two doubles, a home run and five RBIs. Taylor went 8 for 14 (.571) in the series with three doubles, two home runs and six RBIs.
• Taylor recorded the first five-hit performance by a Cardinal since Zak Skinner in 2024.
• Tracy went 3 for 4 with two singles, a double and an RBI to extend his on-base streak to seven games.
• Tracy finished the weekend 6 for 12 (.500) with a double and three RBIs. He recorded his 17th multi-hit game of the season.
• Durbin extended his hitting streak to 11 games going 1 for 3 with a single and two RBIs.
• In his first appearance since April 13, Evans went 2 for 4 with a single, home run and three RBIs.
• Valentine finished 3 for 3 with two singles, a double and an RBI.
• Benton and Duran each went 1 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
• Pregeant had a single to go 1 for 1 with an RBI.
• Beheler finished 2 for 2 with two singles and an RBI.
• This marked the fourth time since 2024 that the LU offense has scored 20 or more runs in a game.
• Travis Lutz improved to 2-1 after throwing six innings with five strikeouts. 
• Julius Carpio did not allow a single run or hit in one inning of relief while he struck out one batter.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals travel to Houston for a midweek contest against Rice at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28.