BEAUMONT, Texas (Interstat) — Lamar defeated Texas-Rio Grande Valley 3-2 on Friday afternoon at Vincent–Beck Stadium, overcoming an early deficit behind strong pitching and a decisive seventh-inning rally. The Cardinals improved to 29-25 overall and 29-25 in the Southland, while the Vaqueros dropped to 25-29.

Starter Chris Olivier carried Lamar into the sixth inning, allowing three hits and one earned run with four strikeouts over six innings. Texas-Rio Grande Valley’s Harrison Thayer went five innings, allowing no hits but two earned runs and two strikeouts. Julius Carpio earned the win with two hitless innings of relief, and Sergio Lopez got the final four outs without allowing a baserunner.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley struck first in the top of the first. After two quick outs, Thomas Williams walked and later scored on a single by Rudy Gonzalez. The Vaqueros added another run in the third when Gonzalez doubled and scored on a Williams single. Lamar answered in the bottom of the second. Elijah Rodriguez singled, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by Gage Evans, making it 2-1.

The game turned in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Tyler Tracy doubled. Beau Durbin bunted for a single to put runners at the corners. Thayer was replaced by JC Gutierrez. On a fielder’s choice, pinch runner scored the tying run. The Vaqueros escaped further damage but the score was locked at 2-2.

The most important sequence came in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Balin Valentine pinch‑hit for Kade Sparks and singled up the middle. Valentine stole second, then Durbin singled up the middle to drive him home, giving Lamar a 3-2 lead. Lopez replaced Gutierrez and struck out the final batter of the inning.

Texas-Rio Grande Valley threatened in the top of the eighth. With one out, singles by Aaron Villescas and Jon Warren put runners on first and second. After a sacrifice bunt, pinch‑hitter Mason Taylor grounded out to score Villescas and move Warren to third, but the inning ended when Gilbert Gongora flied out. In the ninth, Williams walked but was erased on a double play to end the game.

Lamar used three pitchers. Olivier worked efficiently, allowing only a second‑inning double and a third‑inning single before exiting. Carpio retired all six batters he faced, striking out one. Jarret Williams gave up five hits and one run in the seventh but was bailed out by the defense.

For Texas-Rio Grande Valley, Thomas Williams went 2 for 2 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base. Rudy Gonzalez was 1 for 3. The Vaqueros left nine runners on base and hit into two double plays.

Lamar’s Beau Durbin finished 2 for 4 with an RBI. Valentine went 1 for 1 in his only at‑bat. The Cardinals managed eight hits, matching the Vaqueros’ total, but made fewer costly mistakes.

The win gave Lamar a series victory after dropping Thursday’s opener to Stephen F. Austin 2-0. Texas-Rio Grande Valley entered Friday having lost 6-5 to Northwestern State on Thursday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Texas-Rio Grande Valley 6, Lamar 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Lamar a 56.90 percent probability to win prior to the game.