LAS VEGAS – Ciara Luna's first game in a Lamar University uniform was a memorable one, as she fashioned a four-hit shutout to lead the Cardinals to a 3-0 win over Syracuse at the Sportco Kick Off Classic hosted by UNLV on Friday.
 
In the second contest of the night, the Cardinals dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to the host UNLV Rebels in a game that ended after midnight Pacific Time. That game saw Stephanie Meeuwsen become LU's all-time leader in hits, as her fourth-inning RBI triple was her 152^nd career hit, moving her past Donna Dugas, who amassed 151 hits from 1984 through 1987.
 
Luna, a junior right-hander who transferred to LU from Navarro College, walked two and struck out four in the win over UNLV as she became the eighth player in program history to pitch a shutout.
 
"It was an amazing first game for Ciara," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "It's great to beat a school from a big conference."
 
LU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Ashley McDowell walked, stole second and moved to third on Brynn Baca's sacrifice before scoring on a wild pitch.
 
Syracuse (1-1) threatened to get on the board when it loaded the bases with no outs, but Luna got out of the jam without allowing the Orange to get the ball out of the infield.
 
"We got some outstanding defense when we needed to," Bruder said. "They didn't steal any bases and we got timely hitting."
 
The Cardinals added some insurance in the bottom of the sixth when Sable Hankins hit a two-run home run to left field. Luna set the side down in order in the seventh to wrap up the win.
 
Hankins had two of LU's three hits, while Sarah Ragsdale had the other hit for the Cardinals. McDowell had two stolen bases in the win.
 
LU (1-1) had its chances against UNLV (1-1), but stranded seven runners and had three more thrown out on the basepaths. The Cardinals outhit the Rebels 10-8. Meeuwsen and Baca each had an RBI for LU. Baca and Brittany Rodriguez had two hits apiece in the loss.
 
Sophomore Laura Napoli took the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs, one earned in a complete-game effort. Napoli walked one and struck out four. The Rebels did not have an RBI in the game, taking advantage of a pair of LU errors.
 
The Cardinals have two games on Saturday, meeting ninth-ranked Oklahoma and Utah Valley. LU wraps up its participation in the tournament with a game against South Dakota on Sunday.