HAMMOND, La. – The Lamar University softball program got off to a rough start in conference play dropping a doubleheader to Southeastern Louisiana on Friday evening in Hammond.
 
Game 1 – SE Louisiana 6, Lamar 2
 
The Lions broke out the big bats early, but the Cardinals were able to answer in the third with one run to cut the Southeastern lead. Southeastern Louisiana extended their lead over Lamar in the fifth. The Cardinals went onto answer and cut the Lion lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth, but the Lions answered right back in the bottom of the frame.
 
Heading into the sixth, Lamar was looking to create some offense, but the stout pitching of Southeastern controlled the bats of the Big Red. The Lions added an insurance run in the sixth and then forced the Cards into a three out situation to end game 1. The Cardinals recorded four hits in the first game with senior Hannah Carpenter going 2-for-3 with one run and one run batted in. Sophomore Nicolette Ramirez tallied the other two Cardinal hits as she finished game one going 2-for-4 with one run batted in.
 
Game 2 – SE Louisiana 7, Lamar 1
 
The Cardinals started out strong, going up 1-0 in the first inning and limiting the Lions to no runs until the Southeastern bats came alive in third for six unanswered runs to give them the lead. Looking to end the game early by the Lions, the Cardinals brought out freshman Breanna Reyna who was able to suppress the bats of SE Louisiana.
 
The Lions added two insurance runs in the fifth and sixth innings to extend their lead to 8-1 over LU. SE Louisiana forced the Cards into a three up, three down situation in the top of the seventh to end game two. The Cardinals were led by Carpenter at the plate in game two where she went 1-for-3 and tallied one run batted in.