BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team will honor its senior class this weekend when it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in a three-game Southland Conference series at the LU Softball Complex. The teams will play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday and a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday. Senior Day ceremonies will be held at the conclusion of Saturday's contest.

Friday was originally scheduled to be a single game at 6 p.m., but was moved to a 4 p.m. doubleheader, while Saturday's scheduled doubleheader is now just a single game.
 
"This is a special class to me. In my many years of coaching, it's the class I'll miss the most," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "Many of these seniors were here with me when we started this program from scratch four years ago. They took a chance on me. Their loyalty has stayed strong.
 
Being honored this weekend are left fielder Sarah Ragsdale, center fielder Jenna Holland, infielder Marissa LeJune, shortstop Stephanie Meeuwsen, outfielder Baylie Comeaux, catcher Morgan Buie and pitcher Lauren Dannelley. Holland, LeJune, Meeuwsen Comeaux and Buie have been with the Cardinals since the program's rebirth in 2013. In addition, first baseman Ashley McDowell, who has also been with the program since the beginning, will also be recognized. McDowell, who redshirted last season due to an injury, will return for the 2017 season.
 
"Ashley is also part of that first class, and I'm thrilled she'll be staying for one more season," Bruder said. "I know it is going to be emotional for her as well this weekend."
 
The Cardinals (24-15 overall, 11-4 Southland) enter the weekend in second place in the conference, two games behind front-running McNeese, and just a half-game ahead of third-place Nicholls with 12 conference games remaining.
 
LU, which dropped a 4-0 non-conference decision at Texas State on Wednesday, has enjoyed tremendous success at the LU Softball Complex this weekend. The Cardinals are 12-1 at home this season and 24-6 all-time at the stadium since it opened last season.
 
"We love playing in front of our fans," Bruder said. "They give us tremendous support. We're very proud of this facility."
 
Brittany Rodriguez leads LU in hitting with a .416 batting average. Kelly Meeuwsen (.339), McDowell (.333), Brynn Baca (.330), Holland (.327) and Sable Hankins (.322) are all hitting better than .300 for the Cardinals this season.
 
Junior right-hander Ciara Luna (12-4, 2.44) leads the LU pitching staff. Luna is 7-0 with a 1.64 ERA in conference action. Laura Napoli (6-7, 3.41) and Amie Cisneros (2-1, 4.33) are the other possible starters this weekend for LU.
 
The Islanders (13-23, 3-12) are led by Dani Tefft, who has a .320 batting average. As a team, the Islanders are hitting .218 with just 67 runs in 36 games. Liz Carter (7-10, 3.29) leads the Islanders in wins.
 
Following this weekend's series, the Cardinals remain home to host UT Arlington in a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
 
Fans attending Friday's twin bill can purchase the $40 Friday Family Four Pack, with four tickets, four hot dogs, four drinks and four boxes of popcorn available for $40. The first 250 fans will receive free Lamar University sunglasses. Representatives from The Arc of Greater Beaumont will throw out the first pitch on Friday. On Saturday, fans who show their ticket from that day's spring football game will receive a discounted ticket for the softball game.
 
On both days, LU student-athletes will be participating in the Delete Blood Cancer drive, encouraging fans to register as potential bone marrow donors. Fans will not have to donate blood, but will be able to register as a donor simply by having a swab of their cheek collected in a process that takes about five minutes. Members of the LU football team will assist with the registration on Friday, while members of the LU volleyball team and men's and women's basketball teams will be assisting on Saturday.
 
For ticket information, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE.