BEAUMONT, Texas – Scoreless through the first three innings, a tough fifth inning cost Lamar University (4-13, 0-3 SLC) Sunday in the series finale against Sam Houston State (12-4, 3-0 SLC). The Cards fell 8-1 in the third game of the Southland Conference series at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

Philip Ingram led the way for Lamar at the plate with two hits in four at-bats, and Cole Secrest earned his 12th RBI of the season on a single through the middle in the fifth inning.

Jason Blanchard was largely in control of the SLC's best hitting early on, allowing just four hits and one run, unearned, while striking out three in four innings. He allowed two singles and a sac bunt to open the fifth, and finished the day charged with three runs, two earned, off six hits in four and a third innings.

Tanner Driskill relieved Blanchard with runners on second and third, and after striking out the first batter the strike zone narrowed, allowing runners to reach on two walks and a hit-by-pitch that scored two runs. An error put one more across, and a single deep into the outfield cleared the bases. Heading into the bottom of the fifth Sam Houston led 7-0.

Grant DeVore, Ingram, and Secrest collected one-out singles to score one run for Lamar in the bottom of the fifth, but a double play ended the Cardinal threat. A solo homer in the top of the eighth gave Sam Houston State its final margin of victory, 8-1.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday at home with the first of three games against Southeastern Louisiana (11-6, 2-1 SLC). Starters have not yet been announced for the series. After completing the weekend series against the Lions, Big Red will hit the road for a mid-week game at Houston on March 20 and a Southland series at Incarnate Word (10-6, 2-0 SLC) March 23-25.