BEAUMONT, Texas – With the game tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Taylor Davis came off the bench and clicked the game-winning double that clinched the comeback win for Lamar University over Abilene Christian on Saturday afternoon. LU came away with a 5-4 victory.
 
With the win, LU improves to 11-14 on the season and 2-1 in SLC play, while Abilene Christian falls to 7-12 on the season and 1-2 in SLC play.
 
The Wildcats struck first in the contest taking an early lead over the Cardinals. With two outs in the top of the second inning, Clayton hit a home run to center field taking a 1-0 lead. In the third the Wildcats grew its lead to 3-0 as Keeling picked up an RBI and Bradley picked up an RBI.
 
Lamar got the bats going in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Victoria Garivey doubled to right center. She went to third on a Wildcats error. With runners on the corners, Kelly Meeuwsen tripled to right center scoring two and putting the Cards down one, 3-2.
 
The game remained 3-2 in favor of the Wildcats until the bottom of the sixth inning. After Shannon Klaus reached on an error, Amir followed with a single through the left side. Jade Lewis followed as she was hit by a pitch loading the bases. Savana Guidry came up with an RBI single tying the game at 3-3. However, LU would leave the bases loaded in the sixth inning as the next three Cards were retired.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, ACU regained the lead. Tijerina double down the left field line and went to third on a sac bun. She scored on a Huseman single up the middle. LU only allowed the Wildcats to score one in the frame and went to the bottom of the seventh trailing, 4-3.
 
Needing one run to keep the game alive, Savana Mata walked and Meeuwsen singled putting two runners on base. After a ground out advanced the runners, Amir came up with one out and hit a sac fly to center field that tied the game.
 
Heading to extra innings, Julia Voluntad, who came into pitch during the top of the fourth, kept the Wildcats bats quiet. After allowing a leadoff single, she got the next two hitters out before hitting a batter. With two on, Belch popped up to second base ending the inning.
 
Needing one run to win the contest, Guidry led off with a bunt single. She went to second on a sac bunt. With the winning run on second, Kimberly Mattox drew a walk putting two runners on. Following Mattox walk was pinch hitter, Taylor Davis. Davis had a 2-2 count and hit a double to center field scoring Guidry. Davis earned the walk off RBI double giving LU the 5-4 win.
 
The Cardinals return to action on Wednesday, March 13 when they travel to Ruston, La. to face Louisiana Tech. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. from Lady Techster Softball Complex.