RUSTON, La. – The Lamar University softball rolled over Grambling State before dropping a heart-breaking 6-5 decision in 10 innings to Liberty University at the Louisiana Tech Classic on Saturday.
 
Lamar University 15, Grambling State 0
 
LU freshman Julia Voluntad (1-0) earned her first career victory in her first collegiate start as the Cardinals ran their school-record winning streak to nine games in a game that was called after 4½ innings because of the run rule.
 
The freshman right-hander allowed two hits over three innings, walking one and striking out five. Anna Cisneros pitched two innings of scoreless relief for LU.
 
The Cardinals took all of the suspense out of this one early, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the first against the Tigers (1-8) and adding seven more in the bottom of the second. Ashley McDowell had three hits and three RBIs for LU. Brittany Rodriguez had a career-high four RBIs in the win, while Brynn Baca, Kelly Meeuwsen and Stephanie Meeuwsen drove in two runs apiece.
 
"I love the way we came out swinging against Grambling," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "We made a huge adjustment to the speed of their pitcher early in the game."
 
Liberty 6, Lamar University 5 (10)
 
Liberty University rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to end LU's nine-game winning streak.
 
"We have to close the door when we're up by three in the seventh inning," Bruder said. "We had several opportunities to win the game, but we came up short."
 
Sable Hankins hit her team-leading third home run of the year in the top of the seventh to give LU the 4-1 lead. Liberty (6-8) scored three runs in the bottom of the inning, tying the game on a two-out bases-loaded walk to Tori Zavodny. Each team scored a run in the eighth inning before Liberty won it in the bottom of the 10^th on an RBI bunt single by Kassidy McCoy.
 
Rodriguez and Jenna Holland had two hits apiece for the Cardinals. LU starter Laura Napoli went the first eight innings, allowing nine hits and five runs, three earned. Reliever Lauren Dannelley (1-1) took the loss, allowing an unearned run in one-plus innings.
 
The Cardinals (10-3) face host Louisiana Tech in the final game of the Classic at 10 a.m. Sunday.