BEAUMONT, Texas _ The long ball carried the Lamar Cardinals to a 9-2 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears in Southland Conference action on Sunday at Vincent-Beck Stadium.

    Three home runs gave the Cardinals (13-7, 4-2) the three-game sweep of the Bears (9-10, 3-3). The big blow was a three-run shot by Stijn van der Meer in the eighth that pushed a 6-2 lead to 9-2. Reid Russell also had a two-run home run in the first inning and Jake Nash a three-run homer in the sixth inning.

    UCA senior center fielder Tyler Langley led off the game with a solo shot to left field for the Bears' only lead of the game. Lamar scored two in the bottom of the inning before UCA tied the game with a single run in the top of the fifth. Michael Haun tripled and Langley's double knocked him in.

    The Cardinals got a run in the bottom of that inning and then scored three more in the sixth. UCA stranded one runner in the seventh but then went in order in the eighth and ninth innings against Lamar's Enrique Oquendo. Lamar starter Jayaon McKinley (1-0) got the victory, striking out 10 and allowing six hits over seven innings.

    Langley finished 3 for 4 with a home run and a pair of doubles, with two RBI. van der Meer led the Cardinals, going 2 for 3 with three RBI and three runs scored. UCA reliever Tyler Gray (1-1) took the loss, allowing four runs in 2.0 innings.

    UCA returns home this weekend against Houston Baptist. The series begins at 6 p.m. Thursday at Bear Stadium.