March 22, 2014
BEAUMONT, Texas - There are still plenty of games left on the schedule, but for now go ahead and call them the first-place Lamar Lady Cardinals.
The Lady Cards (11-10 overall, 6-1 Southland) moved into sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference softball standings by sweeping a doubleheader from visiting Central Arkansas (14-19, 4-3) by scores of 7-0 and 11-3 at Ford Park on Saturday. Central Arkansas entered the tie with Lamar atop the SLC standings. Now, Lamar owns a half-game lead over McNeese State. It's the first time ever Lamar has been in sole possession of first place in the conference.
It's a great feeling, but we know there's still plenty of softball ahead," Lamar coach Holly Bruder said. "But I'm really proud of this team and the way they played today."
Lamar received another tremendous day from senior Tina Schulz, who seems to be out to win both the conference's Hitter of the Week and Pitcher of the Week awards for the second consecutive week.
Schulz tossed a complete-game shutout in the opener, scattering nine hits while striking out six to improve to 5-5 overall and 2-1 in Southland play. She had a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly to finish with four RBIs in the opener before coming back with two home runs and three RBIs in the nightcap, including a two-run blast in the bottom of the sixth to end the game because of the conference's mercy rule.
Schulz extended her home run streak to five games, as she now leads Lamar with six home runs.
"I'm seeing the ball well right now," Schulz said. "I'm hitting and pitching with a lot of confidence right now."
Shannon Sain added a two-run home run in the first game for the Lady Cardinals, while Stephanie Meeuwsen and Candyce Carter contributed two hits apiece.
In the nightcap, Lamar fell behind 3-1 after Central Arkansas scored three runs in the top of the fourth, but the Lady Cardinals quickly responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie it before breaking it open with four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth.
"I think that says something about this team. We fell behind, but we fought back right away," Bruder said. "That's the sign of a good team."
Shannon Millman (5-5) improved to 4-0 in the conference, allowing seven hits and three runs, all earned. She walked two and struck out six.
Lauren Gambone also homered for Lamar, while Sarah Bigej had a two-run homer for the Bears.
Meeuwsen went 3-for-3 in the second game for Lamar, while Beverly Corry had two hits and three RBIs.
Sam Forrest had five hits on the day for Central Arkansas.
Lamar goes for the three-game series sweep when it hosts Central Arkansas at 1 p.m. Sunday at Ford Park.
"We know it's going to be tough because Central Arkansas is going to throw everything at us," Bruder said. "They don't want to get swept."
Tickets for Sunday's game are available online at www.LamarCardinals.com. Tickets will be available at Ford Park one hour prior to first pitch on a cash-only basis.
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