BEAUMONT, Texas -- Senior Joe Scarlata threw seven strong innings but the Lions were unable to mount an offensive attack against Lamar ace Ricky Testa as the Cardinals won their seventh straight game to open the season, handing the Lions a 3-0 setback in their season opener.

Lamar's Tyler Link led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to left field and the Cardinals pushed across an unearned run later in the inning to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals made it 3-0 in the second but Scarlata ended up pitching a solid seven innings, allowing just four hits, three walks while striking out three.

Roger Aquino came on to pitch a 1-2-3 eighth inning for the Lions.

The Lions strung together three singles against Testa but Lamar cut down the Columbia running game, throwing out all three Lion baserunners attempting to steal.

In 14.0 innings pitched this season, Lamar's Testa has not allowed a run while allowing just four hits with 17 strikeouts.

Columbia is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, February 28 against Lamar in a doubleheader slated to begin at 12:30 p.m. Eastern.