April 29, 2015HOUSTON -- The Lamar Lady Cardinals ended the nonconference portion of their 2015 season by dropping a doubleheader to Houston by scores of 3-2 and 7-2 on Wednesday.
"I'm disappointed that we got just nine hits in 14 innings," Lamar coach Holly Bruder said. "I thought we played great defense. We didn't make an error in either game, but we have to hit better."
Lamar took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning of the opener when Stephanie Meeuwsen scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Sable Hankins. Houston tied it in the fourth inning when Juliana Shrum singled home Kaylin Crumpton.
Lamar regained the lead on Shannon Sain's solo home run in the fifth inning. The blast was Sain's fifth homer and school-record 33rd RBI of the season.
The Cougars took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Houston tied it at 2 when Selena Hernandez scored as Shrum grounded into a double play. Courtney Klinger followed with a solo homer to make it 3-2.
Lamar freshman Laura Napoli (16-15) threw a complete game in the loss, allowing seven hits and three runs, all earned. She did not walk a batter and struck out two.
"Laura was tremendous," Bruder said. "Unfortunately, we didn't give her the support on offense that she needed."
In the nightcap, Houston took a 2-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer by Selena Hernandez. Lamar responded with a pair of unearned runs to tie things up in the second, as Brynn Baca and Jenna Holland scored on a two-out error.
Houston took the lead for good with three runs in the third inning before putting things away in the fifth on another two-run blast by Hernandez.
Starter Amie Cisneros (0-2) took the loss for Lamar, allowing five hits and four runs, all earned in 2 1/3 innings. Lauren Dannelley allowed three hits and three runs, all earned, in 2 2/3 innings. Annika Seedborg pitched one inning of scoreless relief for Lamar.
The Lady Cardinals head home to host Nicholls in a crucial three-game Southland Conference series to close out the regular season. Lamar needs one win against the Colonels to secure a berth in next week's Southland Conference Tournament at Northwestern state.
Lamar and Nicholls meet in a single game at 6 p.m. Friday and in a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Saturday. Saturday is Senior Day, with pregame ceremonies honoring the two Lamar seniors (Sain and Casey Cromwell).
For ticket information, call (409) 880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com.
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