BEAUMONT, Texas - Sunday's softball game between Lamar University and Abilene Christian wasn't an artistic thing of beauty that will find its way into Lamar's Dishman Art Museum, but Lamar coach Holly Bruder was happy with the final result, a 7-4 Lamar win.

"It was ugly at times, but I'm never disappointed with a win," Bruder said after her team improved to 13-10 overall and 6-0 in the Southland Conference. "Of course, I'll take this win."

The Lady Cardinals erupted for six runs in the second inning of ACU starter Emily Seidel, with the big hit being a three-run home run by freshman Sable Hankins, the first round-tripper of her career.

ACU (4-18, 1-5) made it interesting with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Lamar added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Stephanie Meeuwsen to close out the scoring.

Lamar starter Laura Napoli (9-5) pitched a complete game to earn her third win of the weekend. Napoli allowed six hits and four runs, three earned, while walking one and striking out three.

"I thought Laura did another good job today," Bruder said, "Abilene Christian is a good hitting team. She struggled a little bit in the fifth, but settled down."

Meeuwsen and Sarah Ragsdale each had two hits for Lamar, which opened conference play at 6-0 for the first time ever.

"We talked about protecting our house, and we did that," Bruder said. It's great to start 6-0, but there's plenty of softball left. We can't afford to let up. We learned that lesson last year, when we missed out on qualifying for the Southland Conference Tournament by one game."

Lamar hits the road for four straight games starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday with a non-conference contest at UT Arlington. The Lady Cards follow that with a three-game conference series at Incarnate Word that opens with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Friday followed by a single game at noon Saturday.

"It's spring break, so I think it's good we'll be on the road," Bruder said. "We can have a week where the players can concentrate on softball."

Lamar's next home date is March 25, as the Lady Cardinals open a seven-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against Arkansas-Pine Bluff followed by a three-game conference series against Northwestern State on March 27-28 and a non-conference doubleheader against UTSA on April 1.

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