BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals ride the momentum of a four-game winning streak into the opening weekend of the Southland Conference softball season.
 
The Cardinals (11-9) travel to Natchitoches, Louisiana, for a three-game SLC series with the Northwestern State Lady Demons. The teams are slated to play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and a single game at 2 p.m. Saturday.
 
LU's 8-3 win over visiting Penn State of the Big Ten on Wednesday gave the Cardinals their second four-game winning streak of the season. The Cards have outscored their opponents 24-12 in those four contests.
 
"We have some momentum heading into conference play," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "We're young, but we are starting to come around."
 
Offensively, the Cards are led by shortstop Savana Guidry, who is batting .393 in the leadoff spot with a team-high eight stolen bases. Center fielder Shannon Klaus (.348), designated player Taylor Davis (.333), right fielder Maddy Myers (.317), third baseman Shelby Henderson (3.307) and second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen (.306) are also hitting better than .300 for LU. Henderson and Meeuwsen share the team lead with three home runs apiece, while Henderson has 14 RBIs, one better than Meeuwsen.
 
Senior right-hander Laura Napoli (4-5, 3.65) and freshman righty Taylor Gruell (3-1, 3.83) are the probable starters for the Cardinals this weekend.
 
Northwestern State (12-7) is 8-0 at home this season. The Lady Demons swept visiting Arkansas Pine Bluff in a three-game non-conference series last weekend.
 
Madelyn Matt leads Northwestern State with a .375 batting average. Cayla Jones is hitting .367 with a team-leading three home runs. Jones and Sidney Harris share the team lead with 14 RBIs apiece.
 
Senior right-hander Micaela Bouvier (5-1, 1.95) leads the Northwestern State pitching staff.
 
Northwestern State leads the overall series 19-12, but the Cardinals have won each of the last five meetings between the teams.
 
"This will be a good challenge for us to start the conference season," Bruder said. "Northwestern State is always tough to play at their place."
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals host Eastern Kentucky in a non-conference game at 2 p.m. Tuesday before traveling to Houston Baptist for a three-game conference series next weekend.
 
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.