HUNTSVILLE ? Shortstop Jon Reed went 3-for-4 including an run-scoring triple in the Bearkats' five-run third inning as Sam Houston State defeated Lamar 12-5 in a Southland Conference baseball game Friday afternoon at Don Sanders Stadium.

Sam Houston State (19-13, SLC 10-7) evened the SLC series at one game apiece with the win. The Bearkats banged out 17 hits as Nick Zaleski, Tyler Knight and Mark Wyatt also had three-hit days.

Lamar (23-12, SLC 10-7) was led by Brian Taylor who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Anthony Moore had a two-run homer for the Cardinals.

Jacob Howard (3-2) was the winning pitcher, striking out two and spreading nine hits over six innings. Ryan Tepera and Will Skelton saw action in relief. Matison Smith (5-2) took the loss for Lamar.

Lamar scored a run in the top of the first inning, but the Bearkats bounced back to take a 7-1 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first and five in the third.

The two teams will complete the three-game series Saturday at 1 p.m. in Huntsville.

Line Score:

Sam Houston St 12, Lamar 5 (Apr 10, 2009 at Huntsville, TX)

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Lamar............... 100 002 020  -  5 12  3      (23-12, 10-7)

Sam Houston St...... 205 200 03X  - 12 17  0      (19-13, 10-7)

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Pitchers: Lamar - Smith, Matison; Needham, Brian(4); Cuniff, Spencer(7); Steward, Garrett(8);

Gore, Matt(8). Sam Houston St - Howard, Jacob; Tepera, Ryan(7); Skelton, Will(8).

Win-Howard, Jacob(3-2)  Loss-Smith, Matison(5-2)  T-2:50  A-321

HR LU - Moore, Anthony.

Howard, J faced 3 batters in the 7th.