CONWAY, Ark. – The Lamar University Cardinals open the Southland Conference Softball Tournament when they face Northwestern State at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Farris Field on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas.
 
The Cardinals (27-26 overall, 17-7 Southland) are seeded third in the six-team, double-elimination event. Sixth-seeded Northwestern State (22-31-1, 12-15) was swept by LU earlier this season at the LU Softball Complex.
 
The Cardinals are appearing in the Southland Conference Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons since LU revived the softball program in 2013. In that time, only McNeese and Central Arkansas have appeared more times in the tourney.
 
"I'm pretty proud of the fact that we have qualified for the tournament four times," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "There are programs in this conference that have been established for a long time that can't make that claim."
 
The Cardinals arrived in Conway late Monday. The team is scheduled to practice at Central Arkansas on Tuesday as they attempt to get familiar with the artificial turf surface at Farris Field. The Cards have not played a game on artificial turf this season.
 
"It's definitely a different game on the turf," Bruder said. "It's faster. It's something we're going to have to get used to."
 
LU last played at Central Arkansas in 2016, taking two of three games from the host Bears. This is the first time that UCA is hosting the conference tournament.
 
Last season, LU finished second at the tournament, falling to McNeese, which was the host school. Bruder is hoping to see the Cardinals back in the championship round once again.
 
"Reaching the finals was a great experience, and one that I hope we learned from," Bruder said. "This year we want to take the next step and win the tournament, but it won't be easy. There are some very good teams in this conference."
 
LU is led by a pair of repeat first-team all-conference selections. Center fielder Brittany Rodriguez is hitting a team-best .396. The junior also leads the team in slugging percentage (.518) and on-base percentage (.468). Senior catcher Brynn Baca is batting .315 with a team-leading 30 RBIs.
 
Senior right-hand pitcher Ciara Luna (12-15, 2.50) and junior right-hander Laura Napoli (11-10, 3.78) are expected to be LU's starters this week. Luna, who went 9-6 with a 2.00 ERA in conference games, was a second-team all-conference selection.
 
Also representing LU on the second team was junior third baseman Sable Hankins, who made the all-conference team as a utility player. Hankins, who played the first half of the season at shortstop, is hitting .298. She has a team-leading four home runs to go along with 27 RBIs. Hankins batted .361 in conference games.
 
Senior left fielder Ashley McDowell (.298/2 HRs/22 RBIs) and sophomore second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen (.290/1/26) were third-team selections, while junior right fielder Corina Thornton (.286/0/14) was honorable mention. Thornton hit .314 in conference play.
 
Northwestern State is led by Kellye Kincannon, who has team-best figures of a .288 batting average, 11 home runs and 40 RBIs. Sophomore right-handers Mikayla Brown (14-13, 3.21) and Katelyn Boles (5-14, 4.27) are expected to be the starting pitchers for the Lady Demons.
 
The winner of Wednesday morning's game faces second-seeded Nicholls (35-18, 19-8) at 4 p.m. Wednesday, with the loser of Wednesday morning's game going into the loser's bracket for a game at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.  Wednesday's other first-round game features fourth-seeded Sam Houston State (23-25, 14-13) meeting fifth-seeded Central Arkansas (24-32, 14-13) at 1:30 p.m. The winner of that game takes on top-seeded McNeese (39-16, 24-3) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
 
"Winning that first game is so important, because it's so tough to come back and win from the loser's bracket," Bruder said. "If you lose that first game, you have to win five straight games. It's been done before, but it's not easy."
 
"We'd love to see as many fans in Conway as possible," Bruder said. "I know it's a long drive, but we can use their support."
 
Southland Conference Tournament tickets are available by calling the University of Central Arkansas ticket office at 501-852-2234, or by CLICKING HERE.