BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team heads to Waco, Texas, to compete at the Getterman Classic, hosted by Baylor University, that runs from Friday through Sunday.
 
The Cardinals (2-3), who suffered three heartbreaking one-run losses to schools from the Power Five conferences to go along with two wins over Central Michigan at last week's Aggie Classic, will play two games against North Texas along with one game apiece vs. Baylor, UTSA and Grand Canyon this weekend.
 
"It's another tough weekend for us," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "But these are the games that will make us better when conference play starts."
 
The Cardinals open against North Texas (1-3) at 10 a.m. Friday. LU's other Friday game is against UTSA (1-2) at 12:30 p.m. On Saturday, LU meets Baylor (3-2) at 10 a.m. before facing North Texas again at 3 p.m. The Cardinals face Grand Canyon (6-0) at 9 a.m. Sunday.
 
"Grand Canyon is a good team, and they are off to a fast start," Bruder said. "That will be a good test for us. UTSA and North Texas play against similar opponents to what we face. They are both very good teams, and we have to be ready for them. Baylor is always one of the stronger teams in the nation. We proved last week we can play with those types of teams. We just have to find a way to win those games."
 
Ashley McDowell (.313/0 HRs/3 RBIs) and Brynn Baca (.313/1/1) are tied for the team lead in hitting. The Cardinals are hitting just .214 as a team after the first weekend.
 
"I know we can hit better, but we faced some good pitching," Bruder said. "I know our February numbers won't be as good as our March numbers, but facing quality pitching helps us get ready for the conference season."
 
While opponents have a .260 batting average, the Cardinals have a .342 on-base percentage, compared to a .308 mark for their foes. LU drew 21 walks and saw four batters get hit by a pitch, while LU pitchers issued just seven walks while hitting just one batter. LU pitchers have a 3.15 ERA, while opposition hurlers posted a 3.20 ERA against the Cardinals over the first five contests.
 
"Our pitching was our strength last weekend, and I think it will continue to be a strength all season long," Bruder said.
 
Ciara Luna (0-3/1 save/3.36) was the hard-luck loser in all three of the Cardinals' setbacks last weekend, as LU fell to 19^th-ranked Texas A&M 2-1 and 3-2 and to Ohio State 4-3 in eight innings.
 
"Ciara pitched tremendously," Bruder said. "We had our chances to win those games. She wants to pitch in those big games, and she has shown that she can pitch well in those situations."
 
Laura Napoli (1-0/4.74) made two starts against Central Michigan to go along with one relief appearance. Napoli settled down after giving up four runs in the first inning of LU's season-opening 7-5 victory over Central Michigan.
 
The LU bullpen was stellar on the opening weekend. Anissa Rodriguez pitched three innings of scoreless relief to get her first career win in a 7-3 victory over Central Michigan, while Amie Cisneros tossed 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Texas A&M.
 
"I just can't say enough about how well our pitching did," Bruder said. "We're going to need that kind of effort again this weekend."
 
SERIES RECORDS: LU is 0-5 vs. Baylor, 5-3 vs. North Texas and 2-6 vs. UTSA. The Cardinals have never played Grand Canyon. LU's two wins over UTSA came on Feb. 9, 2013, in the Cardinals' first two games after reviving the program. McDowell's walk-off home run gave LU a 3-2 victory over the Roadrunners in the opener of a doubleheader at Ford Park.
 
WEATHER FORECAST: All three days of the tournament are expected to be windy. Friday's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with a high of 73 and a low of 57. Winds will be out of the south at 17 mph. The chance of rain is 20 percent. Saturday will also be partly cloudy, with a high of 81 and a low of 59. Winds will be out of the south at 14 mph. The chance of rain is 10 percent. Sunday will be mostly cloudy and windy, with a high of 78 and a low of 62. Winds will be out of the southeast at 21 mph. The chance of rain is 20 percent.
 
ROUND-TRIP TICKET, PLEASE: McDowell has 19 career home runs, tied with Casey Cromwell for the all-time school record. McDowell's 31 career doubles are one shy of Jenna Holland's school record.
 
UP NEXT: The Cardinals host the second annual Cardinal Classic from Feb. 23-26 at the LU Softball Complex. The tournament opens with LU facing Alabama A&M at 4 p.m. Feb. 23.
 
TICKETS: For tickets for all LU home games, call 409-880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com/SoftballTickets. Tickets are also available at the LU ticket office, located in the Montagne Center, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Tickets will be available at the ticket window at the LU Softball Complex starting one hour prior to first pitch.