BEAUMONT, Texas -- In a game between two of the top hitting teams in the Southland Conference, the Lamar Lady Cardinals used a walk-off bunt to claim a 4-3 win over visiting Northwestern State on Saturday.

"I'd have never guessed this game would be won on a bunt," said Lamar coach Holly Bruder, who coached her 600 ^th career game. "We played well today, and I thought we deserved the win."

The victory salvaged the final game of a three-game series for Lamar (17-13 overall, 10-2 Southland), which had dropped a doubleheader to Northwestern State (20-13, 10-1) on Friday.

"We showed a lot of character coming back and playing the way we did today," Bruder said. "Those are the types of games we are going to have to play if we want to be a championship-caliber team."

Lamar built a 3-0 lead after five innings only to see Northwestern state rally with three runs in the top of the sixth to knot things up.

After Northwestern State got a runner on with one out in the seventh, Lamar starter Laura Napoli (12-7) struck out the four and five hitters in the Northwestern State lineup to set up the improbable finish in the bottom of the seventh.

Leadoff hitter Casey Cromwell opened the bottom of the seventh by drawing a walk from Northwestern State reliever Mikayla Brown (4-1). Cromwell didn't stay on first long, as Lamar's Sarah Ragsdale put down a bunt that was fielded by Brown, whose throw sailed into the outfield, allowing Cromwell to sprint around the bases with the winning run.

"I was just trying to play normal softball and move the runner over to second," Bruder said. "I never expected that would be the game-winner."

Shannon Sain and Brynn Baca had two hits apiece for Lamar. Sain extended her school record of reaching base safely to 23 straight games.

Napoli pitched a complete game allowing eight hits and three earned runs. She walked one and struck out five, tying a career high.

Brown took the loss in relief, allowing two hits and one run, which was unearned.

The Lady Cardinals host UTSA in a nonconference doubleheader at 3 p.m. Tuesday before heading to Southeastern Louisiana for a three-game conference series on Friday and Saturday.

For ticket information, call (409) 880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com.

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