BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — In a wild Southland Conference series finale defined by a massive early deficit and a relentless comeback, Lamar outlasted McNeese State 11-10 on Sunday at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

The game, which began in the afternoon and stretched into the evening, saw the Cardinals erase a 10-run disadvantage, plating 11 unanswered runs to secure the victory and win the weekend series two games to one.

The most critical juncture of the contest arrived in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Lamar having already clawed back from a 10-0 hole to trail 10-9. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs against McNeese State reliever Garett Blanchard on a single, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. That brought center fielder Tab Tracy to the plate, who had already driven in three runs. Tracy delivered the decisive blow, lacing a two-run single to right field that scored Hector Rodriguez and Lane Sparks, giving Lamar its first lead of the day at 11-10.

Tracy, Lamar’s top star, finished 2 for 3 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and five RBIs, powering the comeback. His performance starkly contrasted his recent outings, including an 0-for-3 showing in Friday’s loss to the Cowboys.

McNeese State had exploded from the outset, batting around in a bizarre top of the first inning where they scored all 10 of their runs without recording an out via a hit batsman, walk or error until the final batter. The entire offensive output was officially unearned due to a fielding error by Lamar’s Balin Valentine that extended the inning. Hayden Stringfellow provided the big hit, a two-run single.

The Cowboys added to their lead in the fourth on a two-run triple by Matt Stancliff and an RBI double from Danny Barbero, making it 10-0. Stancliff went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, while Barbero was 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Marcus Heusohn added two hits and two RBIs for McNeese State.

Lamar began its methodical reply in the second, sending 11 men to the plate and scoring four runs, highlighted by Tracy’s two-run infield single. They added single runs in the fourth and fifth, then erupted for four more in the sixth to complete the stunning reversal.

After Tracy’s go-ahead hit, the Lamar bullpen sealed the win. Key relief work came from Cooper Carlgren, who threw 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and especially Julius Carpio, who earned the save with two perfect innings of work, striking out one. McNeese State relievers Parker Morgan, Elliott Burrows and Brady Corcoran were charged with allowing Lamar’s comeback, while Blanchard was tagged with the loss.

The victory improved Lamar’s overall record to 12-8 and its conference mark to 2-1. McNeese State fell to 8-10 overall and 1-2 in the Southland. The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which gave Lamar a 57% probability to win and projected a 6-5 final score.

Lamar next faces Sam Houston in a home-and-home midweek series starting Tuesday. McNeese State hosts Prairie View on Wednesday before a weekend series against Southeastern Louisiana.