BATON ROUGE, La. – The Lamar University softball team was limited to three hits, all came in the sixth inning, as they were defeated by No. 8 LSU, 4-1, on Wednesday evening at Tiger Park.
 
Elizabeth Castillo, Savana Mata and Kelly Meeuwsen picked up hits for LU in the contest. Jade Lewis collected the lone RBI. Aaliyah Ruiz pitched a complete game and struck out six. She only allowed the eighth ranked Tigers to five hits. All four runs scored were unearned.
 
In the first inning, both pitchers struggled with control as Ali Kilponen walked Shannon Klaus putting a runner on. However, following the walk Kilponen recorded two strikeouts ending the inning. Cards starter Ruiz struggled in the first inning as she walked two. However, like Kilponen, Ruiz did not allow a run.
 
Both pitchers kept the bats quiet as both teams went three up and three down in the second inning. The Cardinals bats stayed quiet in the top of the third as they were retired in order. The Tigers bats slowly started to heat up.
 
Taryn Antoine reached on a Cardinals error to get the Tigers started. Aliyah Andrews followed with a bunt single, which was the first hit of the game. After a walk loaded the bases, Amanda Doyle hit a sacrifice fly scoring one. Elyse Thornhill followed with a double off the right field wall that scored two. Amber Serrett followed with a single that scored the fourth run of the contest for LSU.
 
Following the third inning, Ruiz settled back down and only allowed one hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. After four innings of play Lamar trailed LSU, 4-0.
 
The Cards continued to have good at-bats as Taylor Davis and Maddy Myers worked its at-bats to full counts in the fifth inning, however, the bats ended in outs. Taylor Murphy followed with a fly out ending the inning for LU.
 
The Red and White got its first hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Castillo singled up the middle for the first hit of the game for LU. Savana Mata followed with the second hit with a bunt single to the pitcher. The third hit of the game for LU came when Kelly Meeuwsen had a bunt single that loaded the bases with no outs. After back-to-back outs, Jade Lewis drew a bases loaded walk, which scored one for LU.
 
Ruiz continued to keep the Tigers off the bases in the sixth inning as she retired the side in order. LU came up to the plate for its final at-bats in the top of the seventh inning. After a strike out, Murphy drew a walk putting one on. The next two Cards were retired, and LU was defeated by No. 8 LSU, 4-1.
 
The Cardinals return to action on Friday, March 22 when they travel to Huntsville, Texas to play Sam Houston State. The Cards and Bearkats play a doubleheader Friday starting at 4 p.m.