RUSTON, La. – Ashley McDowell blasted her 17^th career home run and scored three runs to power the Lamar University Cardinals to their school-record eighth straight win, a 9-2 decision over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at the Louisiana Tech Classic on Friday.
 
McDowell, LU's active leader in home runs, moved to within two homers of Casey Cromwell's career record of 19. She extended her hitting streak to seven games and her two hits boosted her team-leading batting average to .448.
 
Sable Hankins drove in three runs for the Cardinals (9-2). Brittany Rodriguez also extended her hitting streak to seven games with two hits, while Kelly Meeuwsen and Maddy Myers chipped in with two hits apiece. Jacksonville State, which was picked to contend for the Ohio Valley Conference title, fell to 6-6 on the season. The Gamecocks have lost three games to top-25 teams this season.
 
That was more than enough offensive support for LU starter Ciara Luna, who improved to 5-0. The junior right-hander scattered five hits over six innings, allowing two runs, both earned. She walked two and struck out four before giving way to Laura Napoli, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
 
"Ciara held one of the best teams in the Ohio Valley Conference to five hits, and was amazing," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "The defense played well behind her, and that was our focus all week."
 
The Cardinals took control early scoring four runs in the top of the first and three more in the second. Hankins' opened the scoring with a two-run double and came in to score on Jenna Holland's double to quickly make it 3-0.
 
Jacksonville State scored its two runs in the bottom of the second, but the Cardinals added a run in the top of the fifth and closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh when McDowell homered to right-center.
 
"Our hitters came to hit today," Bruder said. "Sable and Jenna had big hits in the first inning to get us going, and Ashley had another great day at the plate.
 
Jacksonville State starter Faith Sims (1-3) took the loss, allowing six hits and six runs, five earned, in one-plus innings.
 
The Cardinals return to action with a pair of games Saturday at the Louisiana Tech Classic. LU faces Grambling State at 10 a.m. and Liberty University at 12:15 p.m. The Cardinals' final game of the weekend is at 10 a.m. Sunday against Louisiana Tech.