HOUSTON (Interstat) — Lamar scored six runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating Houston Christian 10-3 on Thursday afternoon at M.O. Campbell Center in a Southland Conference baseball game.

The Cardinals struck quickly against Huskies starter Jacob Barnes. Levi Tracy singled to left field to open the game, then Beau Durbin homered to deep left field, his fifth of the season, driving in two runs. After a groundout and a walk to Chase Rod, Brayden Evans doubled to left field to score Rod. Following a hit batter and a mound visit, Houston Christian replaced Barnes with Trevor Lambert. With the bases loaded and two outs, catcher Jake Wagoner singled through the right side of the infield, scoring Evans and Anthony Kummer. Tracy walked to reload the bases, then a wild pitch allowed Taylor to score, giving Lamar a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.

The Cardinals added two more in the second inning. Colton Sparks walked, Rod singled, and Evans lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Sparks. Rod advanced on a wild pitch, then Taylor singled to shallow left field to bring him home. Lamar stretched the lead to 9-0 in the third when Wagoner tripled down the right-field line and scored on a sacrifice fly by Tracy.

Houston Christian got on the board in the bottom of the fourth. Nash Bard singled, David Castilleja followed with a single, and a groundout advanced both runners. A second groundout by Kael Halligan brought Bard home, cutting the Lamar lead to 9-1.

Julius Carpio started for Lamar and worked five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four and walking none. Cooper Carlgren relieved in the sixth and faced trouble in the ninth, yielding two runs but leaving with the lead. Ethan Oceguera entered with two outs in the ninth and induced a popout to end the game.

Lamar added an insurance run in the eighth. Tracy singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a fielder’s choice by Sparks.

Houston Christian’s Ben Smith, who relieved Lambert in the third, threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings before giving way to Brock Rod in the seventh. Jackson Kendall pitched the ninth for the Huskies.

In the bottom of the ninth, trailing 10-1, Houston Christian mounted a late rally. Halligan singled, and after a popout and a strikeout, Walker walked. James Avalos singled to load the bases, and Jeremy Rader was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Oceguera then relieved Carlgren, and a wild pitch allowed Walker to score, making it 10-3. Bard popped out in foul territory to end the game.

Wagoner led the Lamar offense with three hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs. Durbin homered and had two RBIs. Tracy collected three hits and scored three times. Rod and Evans each had two hits. For Houston Christian, Rader, Bard, and Avalos each recorded two hits.

Lamar improved to 27-23 overall and 13-6 in the Southland. Houston Christian fell to 21-26 and 6-13. The two teams conclude their series with games Friday and Saturday at M.O. Campbell Center.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lamar 6, Houston Christian 5, and its ELO system gave the Cardinals a 66.50 percent probability to win.