BEAUMONT, Texas – Kelly Meeuwsen drove in three runs and Taylor Gruell earned her first career save as the Lamar University Cardinals ran their winning streak to four games with an 8-3 win over the visiting Penn State Nittany Lions at the LU Softball Complex on Wednesday.
 
"Getting a win over a Big Ten team is a good way to head into conference play," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "This should give us some confidence heading into the weekend."
 
The Cardinals (11-9) struck early, scoring two runs without the benefit of a hit in the first inning off Penn State starter Madey Smith (0-1), who was making her season debut. Smith failed to retire any of the three batters she faced, walking two and hitting one, before being lifted. Taylor Davis and Meeuwsen drove in runs with sacrifice flies to give LU the lead it would never relinquish.
 
LU added another run in the second on a Savana Guidry triple before making it 5-0 in the fourth. LU's fourth run came across when the Cardinals executed a double steal as Guidry scored while Shannon Klaus swiped second.  Klaus scored to make it 5-0 on an RBI single by Taylor Davis.
 
Penn State (1-12) made a game of it in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs off LU starter Laura Napoli (4-5), who failed to retire any of the five batters she faced in the inning after sailing through the first four frames. Napoli left with the bases loaded and LU holding to a 5-2 lead.
 
Freshman Taylor Gruell got out of the bases-loaded jam, allowing just one more run before throwing a scoreless seventh inning for her first career save.
 
"I'm impressed by Taylor's composure for a freshman," Bruder said. "She wants the ball in big situations. I thought she did a great job in a pressure situation."
 
The Cardinals added three huge insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Meeuwsen had a two-run single to center before Maddy Myers closed out the scoring with a double down the left-field line.
 
"We had our chances for some big inning earlier, but we left too many people on," Bruder said. "That's why it was great to see the offense come through in the sixth inning."
 
Napoli got the win, allowing five hits and three runs, two earned, in five-plus innings. She walked one and struck out three. Gruell pitched two innings, allowing one hit and no runs. She walked one and struck out two.
 
Guidry, Davis and Meeuwsen all had two hits for LU. Toni Polk and Paige Johnson had two hits apiece for Penn State. Myers, who had a hit and drew two walks, has now reached base in 11 straight games.
 
"Penn State is better than their record indicates," Bruder said. "They have played a tough schedule, and they have some good hitters. Any Big Ten team is going to have quality players."
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals open Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Northwestern State this weekend. The Cardinals and Lady Demons are scheduled to play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday. LU returns home to host Eastern Kentucky in a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Tuesday.
 
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.