BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team opens its fifth season of the modern era when faces Central Michigan at 3 p.m. Friday on the first day of the Aggie Classic hosted by Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
 
The Cardinals come off their most successful season, setting a school record for wins as they went 35-22 and advanced to the Southland Conference Tournament finals.
 
"We're looking to build off last season," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "Not only do we want to get to the conference finals again, we want to win them. That's why I've made such a tough schedule, it will get us ready for conference play."
 
LU is slated to play five games in three days this weekend. The Cardinals will face Central Michigan (24-27-1 in 2016) and Texas A&M (39-20) twice each, with one game against Ohio State (34-20-1).
 
The Cards are set to face Texas A&M at 5:15 p.m. Friday and 12:15 p.m. Sunday. LU will face Central Michigan for a second time at 10 a.m. Saturday before facing Ohio State at 12:15 Saturday.
 
"We're going to be tested right from the start," Bruder said. "We're going to see what areas we're strong in and what areas we need to work on. It will be a fair test, but a tough test."
 
The Cardinals, who are predicted to finish in the upper echelon of the Southland Conference this season, boat of four first-team preseason all-conference selections and one second-team selection.
 
Catcher Brynn Baca (.321/1HR/24 RBIs), outfielder Brittany Rodriguez (.393/0/13) and infielder Sable Hankins (.287/6/31) are joined on the first team by right-handed pitcher Ciara Luna (17-8/2.60). Rodriguez set a school record with 70 hits last season, while Luna was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year.
 
Infielder Kelly Meeuwsen (.324/4/42), a second-team preseason all-conference selection, set school records with 22 doubles and 42 RBIs as a freshman in 2016.
 
Junior right-hander Laura Napoli (9-8/3.00), who set a school record with five saves last season, gives LU what Bruder believes is the best pitching tandem in the conference.
 
"We're going to rely on our pitching quite a bit this year," Bruder said. In addition to Ciara and Laura, we have some depth with Amie Cisneros and Julia Voluntad returning to go with our newcomers Anissa Rodriguez and Erin Kyle."
 
Both of LU's games vs. the host Aggies will be shown live on the SEC Network +, which is available online with the Watch ESPN app.
 
UP NEXT: The Cardinals will be in Waco, Texas, next weekend to compete in the Getterman Classic, hosted by Baylor University. LU opens the home season at 4 p.m. Feb. 23 in the first game of the Cardinal Classic, a four-day event at the LU Softball Complex.
 
BACK IN THE CIRCLE AGAIN: With her first appearance this season, Napoli will set the school career record for pitching appearances. Napoli has 77 appearances, putting her in a tie with Shannon Millman, who pitched in 77 games from 2013 through 2014.
 
ROUND-TRIP TICKET: Redshirt senior Ashley McDowell, who hit a walk-off home run in LU's first game when the program returned in 2013, has 19 career home runs, tied with Casey Cromwell, who played for LU from 2013-15. McDowell's 85 career RBIs are nine shy of the school record of 94, set by Jenna Holland, who graduated last season.
 
SERIES RECORDS: LU is 0-5 all-time vs. Texas A&M. The Cardinals have never faced Central Michigan or Ohio State.
 
TICKETS: For tickets to all LU home games, call 409-880-1715, or visit www.LamarCardinals.com/softballtickets. The Montagne Center ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Season tickets and individual-game tickets are now available.