BEAUMONT, Texas – The Lamar University softball program will be back on the road to partake in the Lone Star State Invitational that will occur on the campuses of Texas, Baylor and Texas State from Friday, February 26^th to Sunday, February 28^th.
 
The Cardinals will open play on Friday at 3:30 p.m. in Austin, Texas against No. 7/7 Texas before playing Sam Houston to end the evening at 6:00 p.m.
 
Lamar will then head to Waco, Texas for day two of the invitational as they are set to open play against UConn at 12:00 p.m. and finish their day with No. 23/21 Baylor at 2:30 p.m.
 
The Cardinals will round out the tournament in San Marcos, Texas against the Texas State Bobcats on Sunday with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch.
 
Scouting Report
No. 7/7 Texas
2020 record: 3-0, 0-0 Big 12
Series record: Texas leads 3-1
Last outing: The Longhorns down the Cardinals in five innings, 12-0, on February 7, 2020.
Key Info: The Longhorns are led by Janae Jefferson who averages .400 at the plate with four hits including a double and a triple. The entire bullpen helps keep the Longhorn defense off the field as they have yet to occur an earned run on the year.
 
Sam Houston
2021 record: 1-1, 0-0 Southland
Series record: Sam Houston leads 23-10
Last outing: The Cardinals captured a 5-3 victory over the Bearkats in Huntsville on March 23, 2019.
Key player/stat: Sam Houston is led by Emily Telg who has three hits in seven at-bats for a batting average of .429 with a home run to her record. In the circle, Sam Houston is led by Mika Vento who has an ERA of 0.91 on the year in two appearances.
 
No. 23/21 Baylor
2021 record: 2-1, 0-0 Big 12
Series record: Baylor leads 9-0
Last outing: The Bears captured a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals on April 16, 2019.
Key Info:  Baylor is led by Aliyah Binford who averages .364 at the plate with four hits, one double and five total bases. Sidney Holman-Mansell leads the Bears in the circle with a 1.17 ERA and seven strikeouts.

UConn
2021 record: 3-2, 0-0 AAC
Series record: First Meeting
Last outing: This is the first meeting between the Cardinals and the Huskies.
Key Info: Hollis Wivell leads the Huskies with a .467 batting average as she has seven hits and two runs. Peyton Kinney leads the Huskies in the circle with a 0.52 ERA and 26 strikeouts while tossing 27.0 innings on the year.
 
Texas State
2021 record: 2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt
Series record: Texas State leads 8-3
Last outing: The Bobcats defeated the Cardinals, 4-1, in San Marcos on March 27, 2019.
Key Info: Texas State is led by Cat Crenek who averages .400 at the plate and has scored once. Jessica Mullins and Meagan King lead the Bobcats in the circle with 0.00 ERAs and have combined for 15 strikeouts on the season.  
 
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