LAKE CHARLES, La. – The Lamar University Cardinals erupted for five runs in the top of the first inning en route to a convincing 7-2 win over the Nicholls Colonels in the Southland Conference Softball Tournament on Wednesday evening.
 
With the win, the third-seeded Cardinals (34-20) advance to the tournament semifinals for the second straight season. LU will play top-seeded McNeese at 4 p.m. Thursday.
 
The Cardinals Roughed up Nicholls starter Hannah Haydel, the Southland Conference pitcher of the Year, in the opening frame, sending 10 batters to the plate. Stephanie Meeuwsen's two-run single highlighted the inning.
 
The Cardinals added two more runs in the fifth inning on Meeuwsen's two-run double to make it 7-0. Meeuwsen finished the game 2-for-4 with four RBIs, as she went 5-for-8 on the day after going 3-for-4 in the 6-2 win over Sam Houston State earlier Wednesday.
 
"This is my senior year, and I want it to be special," Meeuwsen said. "We want to keep playing and fight for a tournament championship."
 
LU starter Laura Napoli (9-7) was the beneficiary of the LU offensive output. Napoli scattered 10 hits, while walking two and striking out four.
 
"Nicholls is a good-hitting team, but we did a good job of limiting their chances," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "We played great defense and got the big hits. This was a huge win for us."
 
Haydel (22-8) allowed six hits and seven runs, five earned in her six innings. She walked five and struck out four in her conference tournament debut as the second-seeded Colonels fel to 38-16.
 
"Nicholls hadn't been to the tournament in a while, and we took advantage of their nervousness," Bruder said. "We were aggressive and made things happen."
 
The Cardinals, who are in search of their first-ever tournament title, look to build off the experience they gained at last year's tourney.
 
"Every pitch is important. You can't take a play off," Bruder said. "We're going to battle hard from the first pitch."