BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team faces its fifth top-20 opponent of the season when it travels to College Station to meet the 12^th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies in a non-conference game at 5 p.m. Wednesday. The game will be streamed online by SEC Network +.
 
The Cardinals (18-14) have played two games against current No. 1 Washington along with one game each against Ole Miss and Alabama. LU is looking for its first win against a ranked opponent this season.
 
LU faces a Texas A&M squad that comes into the contest after getting swept in a three-game SEC series at Florida. That sweep moved Florida from sixth to fourth in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll, while Texas A&M (29-7) dropped from eighth to 12^th.
 
"Texas A&M is going to come in and really want a win to get back on track," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "It's never easy to play them, but it's going to be exceptionally difficult on Wednesday."
 
The Cardinals are looking to get back on track after dropping two of three games to visiting Stephen F. Austin in a three-game Southland Conference series over the weekend.
 
"A lot of that has to do with youth and inexperience," Bruder said. "We didn't have productive outs. We talked a lot about process and outcome. We have to trust the process. We have to make adjustments. If we trust the process, we will achieve the outcomes we want."
 
Junior shortstop Savana Guidry continues to lead the Cardinals with a .349 batting average. Junior second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen is batting .327 while leading the team with six home runs, 21 RBIs and a .584 slugging percentage. Junior designated player Taylor Davis is hitting .315 and has reached base safely in 21 straight games, tied for the sixth-longest streak in program history. Davis leads the Cardinals with a .490 on-base percentage.
 
Senior right-hander Laura Napoli (7-7, 3.36) and freshman righty Taylor Gruell (7-4, 3.14) could both see time in the circle on Wednesday. Napoli enters the week with 252 career strikeouts, 17 shy of the school record of 269 established by Ciara Luna.
 
The Aggies, who have a .308 team batting average, are led offensively by Keeli Milligan, who sports a .364 batting average. Riley Sartain leads the Aggies with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.
 
Senior right-hander Trinity Harrington (9-1, 1.53) is the ace of the Aggies pitching staff that has a 2.11 collective ERA. Junior righty Samantha Show (8-3, 2.49) is the Aggies' No. 2 starter. Payton McBride is 1-0 with three saves and a 1.47 ERA in 11 relief appearances.
 
"I imagine we will see their top pitchers," Bruder said. "They are going to want some momentum before they host South Carolina this weekend."
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Texas A&M has won all seven meetings with LU. Last season, the Aggies claimed a pair of one-run wins, 2-1 and 3-2, against the Cardinals.
 
FORECAST: Scattered thunderstorms are predicted for Wednesday evening in College Station. The game-time temperature will be in the mid-60s, with the wind out of the northwest at 10 mph.
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals host Southeastern Louisiana in a three-game Southland Conference series this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader at 4 p.m. Friday and a single game at 3 p.m. Saturday. Fans attending Friday's doubleheader will receive free stress balls while supplies last. There will be a postgame Easter Egg hunt following Saturday's contest. Kids will receive a free general-admission ticket to Saturday's game when accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket. Big Red and Lu will be on hand for photos on Saturday.
 
TICKETS: For tickets to LU home games, 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.