BEAUMONT, Texas – When the Lamar University Cardinals needed someone to spark their offense Friday evening, Jenna Holland lit the fuse to lead LU to a 4-0 win over visiting Southeastern Louisiana in a Southland Conference softball game.
 
Holland's two-run single in the sixth inning broke a scoreless tie and Holland would later cap the four-run outburst on a delayed steal of home as LU (22-14 overall, 9-4 Southland) improved to 10-1 at home this season.
 
"We struggled a bit offensively today," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "But we got some big hits in the sixth inning. Jenna gets that big hit to give us the lead and then steals home. You can thank Allison (assistant coach Allison Honkofsky) for that. That was her idea."
 
Junior right-hander Ciara Luna (11-4) threw her third shutout of the season for the Cardinals. Luna needed just 81 pitches in her four-hitter. She walked one and struck out four as she lowered her ERA to 2.39 overall. Luna is 6-0 with a 1.48 ERA in conference action.
 
"Ciara did another outstanding job," Bruder said. When Southeastern Louisiana did threaten she was able to come up with the big pitch to get out of the jam."

Southeastern Louisiana's biggest threat came in the fourth inning, when the Lady Lions had runners on second and third with one out. That's where the runners would be stranded, as Luna induced Brittney Wingate and Angelica Gutierrez to hid routine grounders to LU third baseman Sable Hankins to end the threat.
 
Holland and Brittany Rodriguez each had two hits for the Cardinals, who finished the day with six hits. Kelly Meeuwsen and Stephanie Meeuwsen added one hit each. Holland's two RBIs upped her LU career record total to 85. Holland had a fourth-inning double as she increased her school career record to 29 two-baggers.
 
"I think we're a better team offensively than what he showed today," Bruder said. "I know we can do better than six hits, but we fought hard and found a way to win. I'm proud of them for that."
 
Taylor Bishop (11-10) took the loss in a complete-game effort for Southeastern Louisiana (19-18, 5-8). Bishop allowed six hits and four runs, two earned, over six innings. She walked two and struck out four. Wingate had two hits for the Lady Lions.
 
The series concludes with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saturday. Saturday is Military Appreciation Day and Youth Day, with all active and retired military personnel receiving free admission with a valid ID, while youth baseball and softball players receiving free admission when they wear their uniform to the game. There will also be a postgame autograph session.
 
"Saturday will be tough," Bruder said. "we were in a battle today. I think Saturday's games will be even harder than today. Our goal is to win the series, and by winning the first game we put ourselves in a good position to do that."