Baseball James Hill (@jameshillSID)

Lamar Rides Dominant Lutz Outing, Big Bats to Take Game 1 of Championship Series

BEAUMONT, Texas – No. 2 Lamar leaned on a dominant outing from Travis Lutz and a relentless offensive attack Thursday night to take Game 1 of the 2026 Southland Baseball Championship Series with a 9-3 victory over No. 5 McNeese at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

After a weather delay pushed first pitch back nearly two hours, both teams traded early runs before Lamar gradually seized control. McNeese struck first in the second inning on Hayden Stringfellow’s solo home run, but the Cardinals quickly answered and never let the momentum fully swing back.

Lutz delivered one of Lamar’s biggest performances of the season, working seven strong innings while striking out 10 and allowing just three runs. He consistently shut down McNeese rallies, punching out multiple hitters in key spots and helping strand traffic as the Cowboys managed just one run through the first six innings.

At the plate, Lamar’s lineup produced throughout the order with 15 hits and constant pressure. A.J. Taylor sparked the offense with three hits, including a solo home run in the third inning, while Tab Tracy added a two-run homer in the fourth that helped create separation.

The decisive blow came in the fifth inning when Lamar erupted for five runs to break the game open. Brayden Evans delivered an RBI single before Balin Valentine, Tracy, Beau Durbin and Taylor all contributed key hits during the surge as the Cardinals stretched the lead to 9-1.

Jake Wagoner and Hector Rodriguez each added three-hit performances, while Valentine finished with two hits and an RBI as Lamar’s offense overwhelmed McNeese pitching.

The Cowboys mounted their best push in the seventh inning with RBI hits from Connor Walker and Korey Cooper, trimming the deficit to six, but Cooper Carlgren closed the door with two scoreless innings in relief to secure the opener.

With the win, Lamar moves one victory away from the 2026 Southland Baseball Championship title, while McNeese will look to even the series in Game 2 on Friday at Vincent-Beck Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. on ESPN+.