COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Lamar University softball dropped a pair of games on the first day of the Texas A&M Invite on Friday. Lamar dropped the first game of the day, 6-3, before falling in the last game of the day, 7-1, to host Texas A&M.
 
Lamar vs. Longwood
The Lancers jumped out in front of the Cards in the top of the first inning. Longwood opened with back to back hits. With a runner on second, Wayland doubled to left scoring one. Later in the inning, Wayland came into score on a Cards error taking a 2-0 lead.
 
Longwood looked to extend its lead in the top of the second as they started the inning with three straight hits. Julia Voluntad settled down retired the next three hitters ending the threat.
 
Lamar got its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second inning but could not get anything going following the hit.
 
The Lancers extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning. Carr singled to start the fourth inning. After two outs, Wayland picked up her second RBI of the game when she singled to center field. The Cards turned a double play ending the inning. The Lancers lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning when Carr hit a two-run triple to center field extending Longwoods lead.
 
Big Red slowly started coming back in the bottom of the fifth inning. Taylor Murphy drew a one out walk. Victoria Garivey singled to right putting two on. Savana Mata doubled to left field scoring one and putting runners on second and third. Garivey scored the second run of the game for LU as she scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Red and White continued to trim into the Lancers lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jade Lewis led off with a single to center field. She scored when Maddy Myers double to center field. After six innings of play LU trailed 5-3.
 
The Lancers added one run in to the top of the seventh inning taking a 6-3 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Mata recorded a bunt single. Pinch hitter Kimberly Mattox drew a walk, putting two runners on base. Shannon Klaus followed Mattox with a walk of her own loading the bases with one out. However, the Cards could not get anything across as they hit into a double play ending the game. The Lancers defeated the Cards, 6-3.
 
Lamar vs. Texas A&M
Lamar looked to strike first against the Aggies as with two outs, Shaina Amir walked. Jade Lewis followed with a single up the middle and Myers drew a walk loading the bases. However, the Cards were retired after they next hitter hit into a fielders' choice.
 
Texas A&M came up to bat in the bottom of the frame and loaded the base on a walk, hit and a hit by pitch. The fourth hitter of the game came up and grounded out, which scored one. McBride followed with a sacrifice fly putting the Aggies ahead 2-0. Martinez followed with a single scoring the third run of the inning for Texas A&M.
 
LU Elizabeth Castillo picked up the lone hit for the Cards in the top of the second inning. The Aggies added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. With runners on second and third and two outs, Sartain doubled down the left field line scoring two. After two innings of play, LU trailed 5-0.
 
In the top of the third inning, Mata reached on a bunt single for the Cards third hit of the game. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt putting a runner in scoring position with one out. She moved to third on a wild pitch and Lewis followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Mata for the first run of the game for LU.
 
In the bottom of the third inning, McBride singled to lead off the inning and Martinez followed with a hit putting two runners on base. Aaliyah Ruiz settled down and got the next three hitters out ending the frame and Big Red trailed 5-1 after three innings of play.
 
The Cardinals looked to get the offense going again in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Mata singled to first base. Amir put the second runner on the base after she was hit by a pitch. However, the two runners would be left stranded as LU's next hitter was retired.
 
The Aggies looked to extend its lead in the bottom of the fifth. McBride and Martinez were the first two batters to reach. Ruiz settled down after the single to Martinez and retired the next three hitters and the game remained 5-1 in favor of the Aggies.
 
After the Cards were set down in order in the top of the sixth, the Aggies extended the lead in the bottom of the frame. After Ruiz got the first two outs of the inning, Sartain earned a wlak and Smith followed with a two-run home run putting the Aggies ahead, 7-1. McBride followed with a walk and Martinez doubled to left center putting runners on second and third. The Aggies added two more in the inning and Cards dropped the contest, 9-1 to Texas A&M.
 
The Cardinals return to action on Saturday, March 2 when they play Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and 10 a.m. and Texas A&M at 12:15 p.m. These games are part of the Texas A&M Invite.