BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team, coming off a perfect weekend at the Cardinal Classic, hosts Louisiana Tech in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the LU Softball Complex.
 
The Cardinals also announced they have added a home game against Penn State at 4 p.m. March 7.
 
The Cardinals (7-6) are looking for their first-ever win against the Lady Techsters. Wednesday's game marks the first time LU has hosted Louisiana Tech, which is 4-0 all-time against LU.
 
"Having a quality team like Louisiana Tech come here should be fun," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "I think having them in our park will make for different dynamics."
 
The LU Complex has proven to be a park that favors pitchers since it opened in 2015. In LU's 70 games in the facility, there have only been 25 home runs, with the Cardinals hitting 11 and the opponents hitting 14. Compare that to the two years at Ford Park, where 83 homers were hit in just 39 games.
 
The lack of the long ball at home hasn't hurt the Cardinals, who are 51-19 all-time at the LU Softball Complex, including 4-2 this season after winning all four of their games at the Cardinal Classic.
 
"We have to play our game at home, which is getting runners on and finding ways to bring them home," Bruder said. "We have to play good defense and make them earn their way on."
 
LU shortstop Savana Guidry leads the Cardinals with a .513 batting average. The junior brings a nine-game hitting streak into Wednesday's contest. Guidry is also contributing with the glove, with just one error in 40 chances.
 
"Savana can get to balls that most shortstops in our conference can't," Bruder said. "She has already taken away a number of sure hits."
 
Guidry isn't the only one making an impact on defense for the Cardinals.  Kelly Meeuwsen does not have an error in 48 chances at second base, while Shelby Henderson at first base and Shelby Hughston at third base have just one error apiece.
 
"This is definitely the strongest defensive infield we've had in the six years since we brought back the program," Bruder said. "It makes a big difference."
 
The outfield has been getting in on the defensive show as well. Center fielder Shannon Klaus made back-to-back dazzling catches in a win over Binghamton at the Cardinal Classic. Kendall Talley and Maddy Myers have also been steady in the outfield.
 
As a team, the Cardinals have a .967 fielding percentage, with just 12 errors in 368 chances.
 
Louisiana Tech (8-8) had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 2-0 loss to Missouri State on Saturday. The Lady Techsters have a pair of wins over nationally ranked teams this spring, defeating No. 21 James Madison 3-2 and No. 24 McNeese 8-7. Louisiana Tech dropped a 2-1 decision at No. 7 LSU on Feb. 16.
 
"They're a good team," Bruder said of the Lady Techsters. "When you beat teams like James Madison and McNeese and give LSU a battle, you're a tough team."
 
Freshman catcher Sloane Stewartson leads Louisiana Tech with a .419 batting average.
 
LU will start either senior right-hander Laura Napoli (3-3, 4.06) or freshman righty Taylor Gruell (1-0, 4.00), but Bruder expects both to see some time in the circle Wednesday.
 
PROMOTIONS: Fans attending Wednesday's game will receive free T-shirts, courtesy of Coca-Cola, while supplies last. In addition, there will be a Greek Home Run Derby.
 
WATCH LIVE: Wednesday's game will be shown on Facebook Live, with Harold Mann providing the play-by-play.
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals travel to Starkville, Mississippi, to participate in the Bulldog Slamboree, hosted by Mississippi State. The Cardinals are scheduled to face Mercer and Alcorn State twice and the host Bulldogs once.
 
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.