SAN ANTONIO – The Lamar University Cardinals couldn't take advantage of two solid pitching performances as they dropped a pair of games Friday on the first day of the UTSA Softball Tournament.
 
The Cardinals (1-4) fell to Missouri State 1-0 before losing to UTSA by a score of 4-2.
 
LU starter Laura Napoli pitched a complete game in the loss to Missouri State, allowing seven hits. She walked one and struck out two. Taylor Gruell pitched 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the loss to UTSA.
 
"Laura and Taylor both pitched well today," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "Unfortunately, we aren't producing enough runs. We have to do a better job in making adjustments."
 
Missouri State's Steffany Dickerson limited LU to three hits, striking out nine. The Bears scored the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Darian Frost's two-out single scored Daphne Plummer.
 
Against UTSA, Gruell allowed just two hits while striking out two in relief of Anissa Rodriguez, who allowed four hits and four runs in 1 1/3 innings.
 
Kelly Meeuwsen got LU on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the fifth inning, while Savana Guidry added an RBI single in the sixth.
 
"We played a strong second half against UTSA, but it was too late," Bruder said. "We needed to have a much better start. We're losing some close games. We have to learn to win these."
 
The Cardinals return to action Saturday with their final two games of the tourney. LU takes on Prairie View A&M at 9 a.m. Saturday before meeting the Kansas Jayhawks at 11:30 a.m. After the Kansas game, LU returns home to prepare to host fourth-ranked Washington in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Monday.
 
PROMOTIONS: Fans attending Monday's doubleheader will receive a free LU softball schedule T-shirt while supplies last. There will be a cornhole tournament between games.
 
TICKETS: For individual-game and season tickets, please call 409-880-1715, or CLICK HERE. The Montagne Center ticket office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The ticket window at the LU Softball Complex will open one hour prior to first pitch on game days. LU students receive free admission to home games with their Cardinal One card, while Junior Cardinal Club members are admitted for free when they present their membership badge.