BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals are slated to play three games against top-10 teams in a span of a little more than 24 hours this week.
 
The face a top-10 opponent at home for the first time in program history when the fourth-ranked Washington Huskies (10-0) come to the LU Softball Complex for a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Monday. The next day, LU travels to College Station to meet the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies (9-0) in a single game at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
 
The Cardinals (3-4) come off a pair of run-rule victories at the UTSA Tournament on Saturday, claiming a 9-0 win over Prairie View A&M before shocking the Kansas Jayhawks 13-4. Now LU faces a pair of undefeated teams in what will be a big test for coach Holly Bruder's young Cardinals.
 
"I'm not afraid of a challenge," Bruder said. "Playing games like this is how we get better. I expect us to go out and compete as hard as we can. This week will test us mentally and physically, but I want us to be ready for tough challenges when conference play starts."
 
The Cardinals finally saw their bats come alive on Saturday, highlighted by a grand slam in each game. Maddy Myers' grand slam in the win over Prairie View A&M was the first grand slam hit by a Cardinal since LU revived the softball program in 2013. The Cardinals didn't have to wait as long for the next grand slam, as Shelby Henderson hit one in the win over Kansas. Henderson tied a school record with seven RBIs in that contest.
 
Lost in the offensive explosion was Amie Cisneros' one-hitter against Prairie View A&M for her first career shutout. Laura Napoli pitched a complete game against Kansas for 40^th career win, extending her school record.
 
Maddy Myers leads LU with a .429 batting average. Her seven RBIs this season are one behind Henderson for the team lead. Savana Guidry is hitting .375, while Kelly Meeuwsen and Taylor Davis are each hitting .333. Meeuwsen leads the Cardinals with three home runs.
 
Napoli (1-2, 3.00) is expected to start one of the games against Washington as well as Tuesday's game at Teas A&M. Cisneros (2-1, 5.65) or Taylor Gruell (0-0, 6.30) are the leading choices to start in the other game against Washington.
 
The Huskies have outscored their opponents 116-4 this season. They went 5-0 at the Sam Houston State Tournament over the weekend, wrapping up the tourney with a 13-1 win over the host Bearkats.
 
The Huskies are hitting .452 this spring with 25 home runs. Taylor Van Zee is batting .655 to lead Washington. Kirstyn Thomas is hitting .567 with team-leading numbers of seven home runs and 20 RBIs. Taran Alvelo (5-0, 0.00) is the ace of the pitching staff. Alvelo has struck out 52 batters in 26 innings.
 
Texas A&M is led offensively by Tori Vidales, who is batting .517 with five home runs and 21 RBIs. Pitcher Trinity Harrington (3-0, 0.00) has allowed just seven hits in 20 innings.
 
UP NEXT: LU hosts the Cardinal Classic, which runs from Friday through Sunday. The four-team event will feature 10 games over three days. Joining LU in the field are Alabama A&M, Binghamton and Loyola Chicago. The Cards will play five games in the tourney. Games start at 9:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday.
 
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.