BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University softball coach Holly Bruder is hopeful that the gantlet the Cardinals went through over the first four weekends will pay off now that the Southland Conference season is here.
 
Bruder put together the toughest schedule to start the Cardinals (7-13) have had since reviving the program in 2013. The Cardinals were 1-7 in one-run games during that stretch, twice losing to fifth-ranked Texas A&M by a single run along with one-run losses to perennial power Tulsa and Kansas of the Big 12. LU finally got its first one-run triumph of the season on Sunday, as Corina Thornton delivered a walk-off single as the Cardinals rallied for a 10-9 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Wooo Pig Classic hosted by the University of Arkansas.
 
The Cardinals will get a chance to put what they learned from their experience to use this weekend as they host Northwestern State in a three-game conference series at the LU Softball Complex. The teams are slated to a play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday as LU opens a seven-game homestand.
 
"I put together such a tough schedule to get us ready for our conference," Bruder said. "We faced some very good teams and learned a lot about ourselves. We've gotten better, and now we have to go out there and prove it."
 
The Cardinals bats came alive this past weekend at Arkansas, as LU scored 34 runs in five games. Senior left fielder Ashley McDowell led the way with a .625 batting average with two doubles, two triples, a home run, three RBIs and 11 runs scored. McDowell earned Southland Conference Hitter of the Week honors for her efforts.
 
"Ashley had a tremendous week, and so did some of our other hitters," Bruder said. "We just have to get everybody to contribute this week."
 
As a team, the Cardinals hit .336 this past weekend with four home runs, boosting their season batting average to .267 with five homers.
 
LU center fielder Brittany Rodriguez leads the Cardinals with a .413 batting average. Brynn Baca is hitting .339 with a team-leading 13 RBIs, while McDowell, who set LU career marks with her 20^th home run and 33^rd double last week, is hitting .318. McDowell's 93 career RBIs are one shy of Jenna Holland's school record.
 
The Cardinals' pitching staff, which was depleted last weekend due to injuries, should be fully healthy this weekend. That's good news for Bruder, as LU faces a Northwestern State squad that is hitting .269 as a team. The Lady Demons (9-13-1) have hit 19 home runs, one behind SLC leader McNeese.
 
Ciara Luna (1-7, 3.46) and Laura Napoli (3-6, 5.35) are LU's likely starters. Anissa Rodriguez (2-0, 3.13) could also get a start for the Cardinals.
 
Micayla Sorosiak leads the Lady Demons with a .350 batting average and four home runs. Her 16 RBIs are second on the team to Kellye Kincannon's 17 RBIs. Mikayla Brown (4-5, 3.93) Katelyn Boles (3-6, 4.65) and Micaela Bouvier (0-1, 4.38) are the potential starting pitchers for the Lady Demons.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Northwestern State leads the all-time series 19-8, dating back to 1984. Last season, LU took two of three games from the Lady Demons at Northwestern State.
 
PROMOTIONS: Fans attending Friday's game will receive a free LU roster T-shirt while supplies last. There will be a postgame autograph session following Saturday's doubleheader.
 
UP NEXT: LU hosts Houston Baptist in a three-game Southland Conference series next weekend. The teams play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. March 17 and a single game at 3 p.m. March 18. The homestand concludes with a non-conference game against UTSA at 3 p.m. March 21.
 
TICKETS: For tickets for all LU home games, call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. 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.