LAKE CHARLES, La. -- The Lamar Lady Cardinals saw their road to the Southland Conference softball tournament get much harder after dropping a doubleheader to McNeese State on Sunday.

Lamar (22-23 overall, 12-9 Southland) dropped a 6-1 decision in the first game before squandering an early 3-1 lead in a 4-3 loss in eight innings in the nightcap.

The Lady Cardinals need to win at least one game in next weekend's Southland Conference series against visiting Nicholls to clinch a spot in next month's Southland Conference Tournament at Northwestern State.

Sunday's losses didn't sit well with Lamar coach Holly Bruder, who knew her team had a golden opportunity to all but clinch a tournament berth with a win against McNeese State.

"The way we performed today was very disappointing," Bruder said. Our pitchers gave us opportunities to win both games, but offensively, we didn't produce. Our ability isn't an issue, but our desire and work ethic during the games is losing us the chance of playing in the postseason."

McNeese State (33-18, 18-5), which stayed alive for the regular-season title, scored three runs in the bottom of the first in the opener off of Lamar starter Amie Cisneros (0-1), who was making her first career start.

The Lady Cardinals got their only run of the game in the top of the second when Marissa LeJune's bunt single scored Brynn Baca. McNeese State made it 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth with three unearned runs.

Lamar threatened in the fifth inning, and appeared to cut into the McNeese State lead when Shannon Sain hit a two-out single to left. LeJune raced home from second and appeared to easily beat the tag, but was called out by home-plate umpire Wayne George, which displeased Bruder to no end.

Lamar had another threat wiped out in the seventh, when, with runners at first and second with one out, Sarah Ragsdale's hard grounder deflected off the glove of McNeese state pitcher Rachel Smith and headed toward the right side of the infield. McNeese State second baseman Hailey Drew reversed direction in an attempt to get to the ball and collided with Lamar's Casey Cromwell, who was running from first to second.

The umpires originally ruled obstruction against McNeese State, but after a lengthy discussion, overturned the call and called Cromwell out for interference, ruling that she intentionally ran into the McNeese State infielder, all but ending Lamar's rally.

Smith (11-5) scattered six hits for the win, walking three and striking out five. Lauren Dannelley pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Lamar.

In the second game, Lamar scored three runs in the top of the second thanks to a two-run single by Jenna Holland and an RBI single by LeJune.

McNeese State scored single runs in each of the first three innings to tie the game heading into the fourth. Lamar regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Holland scored on a wild pitch, but the Cowgirls tied it once again when Tori Yanitor had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth.

The score stayed tied at 4 until the bottom of the eighth, when Morgan Catron led off with a double, stole third and scored on a throwing error by Baca, who tried to pick her off of third.

Lamar starter Laura Napoli (16-14) took the loss, allowing six hits and three earned runs. McNeese State's Bianca Lilly (2-1) pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and two earned runs.

The Lady Cardinals are at Houston for a nonconference doubleheader at 4 p.m. Wednesday before the crucial series with Nicholls. The Lady Cardinals host the Colonels at 6 p.m. Friday and in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Saturday.

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

LAMAR