BEAUMONT, Texas – Lauren Dannelley made the most of her spot start, as she handcuffed the Houston Cougars over five innings to help the Lamar University softball team earn a split of its non-conference doubleheader at the Lamar University Softball Complex on Tuesday.
 
Dannelley (3-3) allowed four hits and just one earned run over five innings as The Cardinals claimed a 4-3 victory in the second game of the twin bill after dropping the opener 8-4.
 
"Lauren did a job of closing the first game," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "She was the only one who really competed, so I decided to let her start the second game, and she really came through."
 
It was just the second start of the season for Dannelley, who had thrown just 15-2/3 innings over 11 appearances all season heading into the second game. She walked two and struck out a season-high five batters as the Cardinals (19-12) posted their first-ever victory over the Cougars in eight tries.
 
"Lauren did a good job of keeping them off balance," LU catcher Brynn Baca said of Dannelley. "She kept the ball low and was hitting her spots."
 
Baca was the hitting hero in the second game, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs. She had a two-run single in the third inning and keyed LU's two-run fifth inning that gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. Baca had a one out double in the fifth and came around to score on Jenna Holland's single that deflected off of first base. Holland later scored what proved to be the winning run on a passed ball.
 
Laura Napoli pitched two shutout innings for her second save of the season and fourth of her career.
 
"That was a tough save for Laura," Bruder said. "To face a good hitting team like Houston with just a one-run lead is not easy. She responded well today."
 
Sarah Ragsdale also had two hits for LU in the nightcap. Savannah Heebner had two hits and two RBIs for Houston.
 
"We came out much more focused in the second game," Bruder said. "I laid into them between games. We didn't compete in that first game. These midweek games are designed to get us ready for tough conference games. I was very disappointed in the way we played in that first game."
 
Houston (16-16) broke open a close game in the opener by scoring two runs in the firth and four in the sixth to take an 8-1 lead. The Cardinals tried to claw back by scoring three runs I the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn't nearly enough.
 
LU took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Ashley McDowell drew a one-out bases-loaded walk, but that was the only run the Cardinals could muster as they left the bases loaded. LU left nine runners on base in the first game.
 
"We didn't have good at-bats after that," Bruder said. "I think maybe it's a different game if we score some more in that first inning."
 
Brittany Rodriguez, Sable Hankins and Stephanie Meeuwsen had two hits apiece for LU in the first game. Rodriguez failed to reach base in the second game, seeing her school-record streak of reaching base safely end at 26 games.
 
Ciara Luna (8-3) started and took the loss for LU, allowing nine hits and four runs, three earned, in five innings. Amie Cisneros allowed four runs, one earned, in her one inning of relief before Dannelley set the side down in order in the seventh.
 
Elise LeBeouf had three hits for Houston in the opener.
 
The Cardinals return to Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Northwestern State this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday and a single game at 1 p.m. Saturday. All three games will be an internet-only broadcast.