BEAUMONT, Texas – Cole Tabor's tenth-inning two-run home run snapped a three-game skid as the University of the Incarnate Word defeated Lamar University, 5-3, tonight in Southland Conference action. The Cardinals are improved 14-13 and 6-8 SLC, while Lamar is now 16-11 and 9-5.

Trailing 1-0 going into the top of the second, first baseman Cris Enriquez tied the game on a lead-off home run on the first pitch he saw.

Lamar retook the lead in its half of the second on an RBI single to first to go in front 2-1, and the other Cardinals added a run in the fourth to push the lead to, 3-1.

With two outs in the top of the fifth, UIW's Preston Newberry singled up the middle and then moved to second off Colin Cymbalista's single through the left side.  This would force a mound visit by Lamar with Jake Weaver coming up. The hot-hitting Weaver then drove in Newberry from second with an RBI single through the right side to cut the lead to 3-2 before the inning ended on a lineout.

The Cardinals were down to their final eight outs when Newberry tied the game on his fifth home run of the season, when he sent it over the right-center field wall.

Both teams would go scoreless for the next two and a half innings, sending the game to extra innings.

With UIW having the odds in their favor going into extra innings, Enriquez singled to shallow right and was lifted for pinch runner Kevin Ramos to start the top of the tenth. Ramos moved into scoring position off a wild pitch with no outs. Tabor, who leads the team in home runs with seven connected for his eighth of the season on a 3-1 count to give UIW its first lead of the game at, 5-3.

Lamar, down to its final three outs, went down in order as the Cardinals picked up the victory to even the series at one.

UIW as a team belted three home runs to increase its season total to 42.

Reliever Chase Blease picked up the win to improve to 2-1 on the year. He allowed one hit over two innings. Closer Fawster Voytko earned his team-leading third save of the season, while striking out two in an inning of work

Newberry led all UIW hitters with three hits (3-for-5). He tallied a pair of runs, an RBI, and a home run.

Enriquez finished the night going 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Teammate Drake Anderson registered a pair of hits, while Tabor was 1-for-5 with two RBIs, a home run, and a run scored.

UIW is back in action tomorrow for the rubber game of the series against Lamar. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.