BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals rode strong pitching performances from Ciara Luna and Amie Cisneros to a doubleheader sweep of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi by identical 5-0 scores in Southland Conference action at the LU Softball Complex on Friday night.
 
Luna (13-4) tossed a five-hitter for her fourth shutout of the season, tying the school mark set by Karen Castilaw in 1984. Cisneros (3-1) allowed four hits over six innings in the nightcap as she extended her scoreless string to a personal-best 14 1/3 innings. Lauren Dannelley preserved the shutout by pitching a scoreless seventh inning.
 
"Our pitching was just tremendous today," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "The key thing about Ciara and Aimee is that they are pitching with a lot of confidence. They're pitching smart, and they're getting help from their defense."
 
With the sweep, LU (26-15 overall, 13-4 Southland) tied the school's single-season record for wins, matching the 26 victories the Cardinals posted last season. The 13 conference victories are one shy of the LU season mark set in 2013 and matched in 2015.
 
"These were big wins for us," Bruder said. "We want to put ourselves in the best possible position for the conference tournament."
 
In the opener, the Cardinals gave Luna all of the support she would need with two runs in the third inning as Brittany Rodriguez's infield single scored Sarah Ragsdale on a play that saw Baylie Comeaux score on an errant throw from the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi shortstop,
 
The Cardinals tacked on three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sable Hankins hit an RBI grounder to score Jenna Holland to make it 3-0 before Ashley McDowell launched a rocket well over the right-field fence to make it 5-0. The homer was the 19^th of McDowell's career, tying the school mark set by Casey Cromwell.
 
In the second game, the Cardinals broke open a scoreless game with three runs in the bottom of the fourth thanks to RBI singles from Brynn Baca, McDowell and Sarah Ragsdale all collect RBI singles.
 
LU added a single run in the fifth when Holland scored on a wild pitch and one more in the sixth when McDowell stole home as part of a double steal as the Cardinals improved to 14-1 at home this season with six shutout wins.
 
Kelly Meeuwsen had a double in the first game, setting an LU mark for most doubles in a season with 15.
 
"We got some timely hits and we made things happen on the bases," Bruder said. "We were aggressive in both games."
 
Dani Tefft had three hits on the day for the Islanders (13-25, 3-14).
 
The series concludes with a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday on Senior Day, as the Cardinals will honor their seven seniors in postgame ceremonies.