BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball team extended its winning streak to three games as they swept day one of the Cardinal Classic. LU opened the home slate with a 2-1 victory over Rhode Island and wrapped up the night with a 4-2 win over Maine.
 
"The starting pitching gave us some quality innings tonight," remarked Head Coach Amy Hooks. "Our offense was a little weak but when you had quality pitching performances and defense behind them we were able to settle into the game. We really wanted to play in front of the home crowd and we fed off their energy tonight."
 
Lamar vs. Rhode Island
The Cards, who were the away team, got the offense going early in the contest as Kelly Meeuwsen led off the game with a triple to center field. She came into score on a sacrifice fly by Shannon Klaus, who was the next hitter. That would be all the Cards would get in the first and led 1-0.
 
Following the run for LU, pitcher Erin Kyle did not let the Rams get anything going at the plate. In the bottom of the second inning, Kyle retired the first two hitters before giving up a single. She followed by getting a fly out to end the inning.
 
LU extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning. Meeuwsen singled for her second hit of the game. Klaus followed with a walk. After a fly out moved Meeuwsen to third, Big Red had runners on the corners. With Jade Lewis at the plate, the Rams threw a wild pitch that scored Meeuwsen and Klaus went to third. However, LU could only get one run across the plate and led 2-0.
 
After the Cards took the 2-0 lead, pitching was the name of the game as neither team could get anything going at the plate. In the fourth and fifth innings, the Cards and Rams combined to only allow two hits. In the bottom of the fifth, after a leadoff single, Kyle settled down and got the next three hitters out.
 
Rhode Island cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning. Castillo led off the inning with a home run cutting the Cards lead down to 2-1. After a single, Kyle again dialed in and retired the next three hitters keeping the Cards ahead, 2-1.
 
Heading to the bottom of the seventh LU led 2-1. Lewis came into the contest to pitch and retired the side in order and LU came away with a 2-1 victory. Kyle earned the win and Lewis picked up the save for LU.
 
Lamar vs. Maine
In the top of the first inning of the Cards second game, Maine got the offense going as Neely reached on a single and moved to second on a throwing error on the same play. Neely came into score on a ground out putting Maine ahead 1-0.
 
The Cards answered back in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Klaus drew a walk. Once on base she stole second and third base and came into score on an Elizabeth Castillo ground out, tying the game at 1-1.
 
Lamar took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Shaina Amir led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch. She advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Amir moved to third on a ground out. She scored on a wild pitch putting LU ahead 2-1.
 
After allowing a run in the first, Julia Voluntad did not allow Maine to get another run until the top of the fourth. With one out, Royle doubled to center field. After the second out of the inning, McGouldrick doubled to left field, scoring Royle tying the game at 2-2.
 
The game did not stay tied for long as the Cards answered back in the bottom of the fourth. With a runner on first, Taylor Murphy drew a walk and Savana Mata stole third on the play putting runners on the corners. Victoria Garivey singled scoring one putting LU ahead 3-2. Mackenzie Futrell followed with a single, scoring another putting LU ahead 4-2. The next two hitters had hard hit balls, but the Black Bear short stop made two nice catches.
 
With the lead of 4-2, Voluntad got herself in a little trouble in the top of the fifth inning. After a pop out, Neely singled, and German reached on an error putting two on. Derrick followed with a ground out and runners moved up a base. The next Black Bear drew a walk, which loaded the bases with two outs. Voluntad got out of the inning by getting Royle to fly out to center field.
 
Aaliyah Ruiz came into pitch for the Cards in the top of the sixth inning and recorded three straight strikeouts ending the inning. With a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning, Ruiz continued to keep the Black Bears off balance and got two pop outs to start the inning. She ended the game with a strike out and Big Red came away with a 4-2 victory. Voluntad picked up the win and Ruiz picked up the save for the Cards.
 
Lamar returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 23 when they play host to Rhode Island and Maine. Lamar will play Rhode Island at 12:30 p.m. and Maine at 3 p.m. from the LU Softball Complex.