HOUSTON, Texas — Lamar University collected 12 hits in a 10-3 win over Houston Christian on Thursday night at Husky Field.
The Cardinals entered the day needing two wins to secure the No. 2 seed, but Northwestern State's extra-inning loss to McNeese clinched the spot, giving LU the right to host first-round play in the Southland Conference tournament.
LU's pitching staff recorded nine strikeouts, bringing its season total to 439 — tied for the eighth-highest mark since 1997.
The Cardinals got off to a fast start, scoring six runs in the first inning.
Tab Tracy opened the game with a single, and
Beau Durbin followed with a two-run home run to left, clearing the fence by 350 feet.
Brayden Evans added an RBI double to left, and after back-to-back hit batters,
Jake Wagoner delivered a two-out, two-RBI single through the right side.
A.J. Taylor capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitch.
LU extended the lead to 8-0 in the second.
Evans drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right, and Taylor followed with an RBI single to shallow left.
The Cardinals added a run in the third on a sacrifice fly to left center by Tracy.
HCU put its first two runners on with back-to-back singles, then scored on an RBI groundout to second by Katcher Halligan to break up the shutout in the fourth.
LU had its leadoff hitter reach base in six of eight innings.
Tracy sparked the eighth with a single to left, then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. He scored on
Lane Sparks' fielder's choice to second.
RECORDS: LU (27-23, 18-10); HCU (21-26, 12-16)
GAME NOTES
- Five Cardinals had a multi-hit night while three had multiple RBIs.
- LU saw seven of its nine leadoff hitters reach base.
- Wagoner finished 2 for 4 with a single, triple and two RBIs.
- Evans had a single and a double to go 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Evans has now reached base safely in his last seven games.
- Tracy went 2 for 3 with two singles, a walk, a stolen base and an RBI.
- Tracy becomes the first Cardinal to steal 20 or more bases in a season since Ben MacNaughton had 26 in 2023.
- Durbin finished 1 for 5 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. He is now tied for second on the team with five home runs.
- Taylor went 2 for 4 with two singles and an RBI. He extended his on-base streak to nine games.
- Hector Rodriguez had a single, double and a walk to go 2 for 4.
- Julius Carpio improved to 3-2 after tossing five innings allowing four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts.
- Cooper Carlgren struck out six batters in 3.2 innings of relief.
UP NEXT
The series continue with Game 2 at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 8.
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