LAKE CHARLES — UNO hit back-to-back home runs in a four-run second inning and held down Lamar the rest of the way, opening the Southland Conference tournament with a 4-1 victory in a game that was slowed by a 2½-hour lightning delay.
The No. 4-seeded Privateers (34-22) will face No. 5 Northwestern State (28-25) at 6 p.m. Thursday.
UNO scored all four of its runs with two outs in the top of the second. Anthony Herron Jr. and Jeissy de la Cruz singled, and Jorge Tejeda homered to left field for a 3-0 lead. Isaac Williams followed by a solo homer.
Lamar cut into the lead in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Tanner Wilson, but the Privateers’ pitching shut out the Cardinals the rest of the way.
Blake Mitchell (11-3) worked eight strong innings for UNO. He allowed one run on four hits, striking out nine and walking one. Jacob Mead picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth.
Lamar put four runners get in scoring position over the final six innings but stranded all of them.
Jacob Ellis (4-5) went six innings for the Cardinals (32-23). He allowed five hits struck out five and walked none.
Lamar managed just one extra-base hit, a ninth-inning double by Southland Player of the Year Ryan Snell.
Tejeda was 2 for 4 for UNO.