BEAUMONT, Texas – In the first of a three-game set at Vincent-Beck Stadium, the Lamar Cardinals defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, 6-5, in 10 innings on Friday, February 17, which served as Opening Day across America for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I baseball.

Senior catcher Ryan Snell played hero for the Southland Conference's Cardinals, delivering a two-run walk-off home run in the 10^th after Oakland had moved back ahead, 5-4, in the top of the inning.

Junior right-hander Brandon Decker, a North Farmington Raider, took the loss for the Golden Grizzlies, finishing with a line of two runs on one hit with two walks and a strikeout over 1.1 innings.

Recording the final six outs, sophomore righty Jackson Cleveland earned the win for Lamar.

Mesa, Arizona's Travis Densmore, a left-handed senior, drew Oakland's Opening Night start and allowed four runs on six hits over four innings with two walks and four strikeouts.

Sophomore Hunter Pidek continued to look impressive, bridging the gap between Densmore and Decker with four scoreless frames. He gave up just one hit, walked two and sent down four on strikes.

Occupying the leadoff spot, graduate student first baseman Gabe Lux tallied a pair of doubles, a run and an RBI. Left-handed-hitting sophomore second baseman Peter Jelenic registered the Golden Grizzlies' other extra-base hit, a ninth-inning double, and sophomore Kevin Krill and graduate students Thomas Green and Jared Miller also drove in runs.

Along with Snell, Cardinals junior shortstop Kanin Dodge finished with two RBI and senior second baseman Kirkland Banks and junior designated hitter Tanner Wilson both collected two hits.

TWO MAKE OAKLAND DEBUT
Twinsburg, Ohio freshman Reggie Bussey and Payson, Illinois junior Lucas Loos both made their Golden Grizzly debuts Friday.

Loos pinch-hit for redshirt sophomore Reagan Paulina in the seventh and replaced him in right field.

Reaching on a fielder's choice in the ninth, Loos was lifted for a pinch-runner, which came in the form of Bussey, who stayed in and played the remainder of the contest in center field.

BACK AT IT SATURDAY
These two will return to the diamond at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 18 for the middle game of their series.

Looking to keep their hopes for a series victory alive, redshirt senior right-hander Brett Hagen will start for Oakland, while junior lefty Jacob Ellis will go for Lamar.

All three games of this season-opening series are airing live on ESPN+ (subscription required) and Saturday's clash can be viewed here.