HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Lamar University Cardinals can take a giant step toward earning a spot in next month's Southland Conference Softball Tournament when they meet the host Sam Houston State Bearkats in a three-game series this weekend.
 
The Cardinals (20-17 overall, 6-6 Southland) are tied with Abilene Christian for seventh place in the 12-team conference, one game ahead of Sam Houston State (13-24, 5-7) with 15 games remaining. The top eight teams qualify for the tournament.
 
"Our goal right now is to qualify for the tournament," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "Every series is important, especially one with a team we're battling with to get into the tournament."
 
Bruder hopes Wednesday's 6-2 non-conference loss to No. 25 Texas State motivates the team for this weekend's series.
 
"We were lackadaisical," Bruder said. "I know we can perform better than we did. When you're fighting for a spot in the postseason, everyone must perform. We need a better effort from everybody."
 
Offensively, the Cardinals are led by shortstop Savana Guidry, who brings a .359 batting average into the weekend. Guidry is on an 11-game hitting streak, equaling one she posted earlier this season. Center fielder Shannon Klaus, who had two hits against Texas State, is batting .320, while second baseman Kelly Meeuwsen is hitting .307 while leading the team with six home runs and 22 RBIs.
 
The Cardinals will face a Sam Houston State pitching staff led by Lindsey McLeod (9-8, 2.31), who is 4-3 with a 2.05 ERA in conference play. McLeod will likely get two starts this weekend.
 
Sam Houston State's offense is led by Megan McDonald, who is hitting .308 overall and .385 vs. Southland Conference pitching. Tiffany Thompson is hitting .382 with three home runs and nine RBIs in conference games.
 
Senior right-hander Laura Napoli (9-8, 3.32) and freshman righty Taylor Gruell (7-6, 3.55) are the probable starters for the Cardinals this weekend. Napoli has 259 career strikeouts, 10 behind the school record of 269 held by Ciara Luna.
 
"These should be three very competitive games," Bruder said. "It's going to come down to who wants it more."
 
FORECAST: Friday's doubleheader will be played under cloudy skies with the temperature in the high 70s and winds out of the south-southwest at 15 mph. Saturday's game will also be played under cloudy skies, with the temperature dipping down to about 53. The wind will be out of the north-northeast at 12 mph. The chance of rain is 15 percent each day.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: LU is 7-20 all-time vs. Sam Houston State, including a 5-6 mark since reviving the softball program in 2013. LU is 0-3 at Sam Houston State's Bearkat Softball Complex.
 
ON DECK: The Cardinals host the Houston Cougars in a non-conference doubleheader at 4 p.m. Wednesday before heading to Central Arkansas for a three-game conference series next weekend.
 
TICKETS: For tickets to all 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.