MONROE, La. – Taylor Gruell and Mackenzie Futrell were the heroes Wednesday as the Lamar University Cardinals swept a non-conference softball doubleheader from the host Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, needing eight innings in each contest to claim wins of 11-7 and 3-2.
 
Gruell (9-7), who hadn't won since March 23, had two stellar relief outings to get the win in both games, while Futrell lashed a two-out, two-run pinch-hit single in the top of the seventh of the opener to tie the game at 7 on her first hit of the season.
 
The Cardinals (26-24) snapped a five-game skid, while ULM (23-23) extended its losing streak to six games.
 
"We needed these wins," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "This will give us some confidence heading into our final two weekends of conference play."
   
Shelby Henderson and Shelby Hughston had three hits apiece as the Cardinals matched their season high with 17 hits as they rallied from a 7-2 deficit in the seventh inning for the win.
 
LU scored five runs on six hits in the seventh inning before adding four runs on three hits in the eighth inning. Futrell picked the perfect time for her first hit of the season, tying the game as she ripped the ball into center field.
 
"Mackenzie earned the opportunity to bat in that situation," associate head coach Allison Honkofsky said. "She's hit the ball hard in a few other pinch-hitting opportunities. She really came through today."
 
In the eighth inning, Kendall Talley had a two-run single to give LU a 9-7 lead before Henderson delivered a two-run double to give the Cardinals the four-run cushion. Talley and Elizabeth Castillo had two hits apiece for LU.
 
"Our hitters showed up when they needed to in the first game," Honkofsky said. "It was great to see several players step up."
 
Gruell, the fourth LU pitcher used in the game, picked up the win with 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief, striking out two.
 
Sydney McKay went 4-for-5 for the Warhawks. Paige Murray took the loss in relief, allowing four runs, three earned, over two innings.
   
Gruell tossed four innings of one-hit relief to get the win in the second game as the Cardinals staged another comeback win.
 
The Warhawks scored single runs in the first and fourth innings off LU starter Amie Cisneros, who allowed three hits in her four innings of work. The Cardinals tied it in the sixth with two runs. Kendall Talley scored on an outfield error before Taylor Davis drove home pinch-runner Corina Thornton with a double down the left-field line.
 
Henderson brought home the winning run in the top of the eighth as her sacrifice fly plated Kendall Talley.
 
Murray (12-11) took the loss for ULM in a complete-game effort, allowing eight hits and three runs, just one earned.
 
"Our pitchers did a great job in the second game," Honkofsky said. "Our defense also stole some outs with some great plays. I was very happy with the way we played tonight."
 
Henderson and Savana Guidry had two hits apiece for LU on the second game.
 
"Shelby Henderson hit the ball hard every time tonight," Bruder said. "She was robbed a few times by great defensive plays. We need her to continue that this weekend."
 
NOTES: The Cardinals turned two double plays in the second game, including an unassisted twin killing at first base by Elizabeth Castillo, to run their Southland Conference-leading total to 30 … Kelly Meeuwsen had an RBI in the first game to boost her career total to 102 RBIs, five behind Ashley McDowell for the all-time LU record.
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals host Incarnate Word in a three-game conference series this weekend. The teams play a doubleheader at 5 p.m. Friday and a single game at 3 p.m. Saturday. LU wraps up the regular season with a three-game SLC series at Nichols the weekend of May 4-5.
 
TICKETS: For tickets to this weekend's home series, 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.