HOUSTON – Lamar University battled throughout the Houston Tournament, but came up short in both games Sunday at Cougar Stadium. Northern Colorado outlasted the Cardinals in the first game 8-5 in eight innings. Houston Baptist defeated Big Red 11-5 in the second game. 

Junior infielder Hannah Kinkade blasted two home runs against Houston Baptist, including a grand slam. 

The Cardinals (4-11) started off the first game with a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Audry Fleming scored first in the second inning on a Felixia Hinojosa RBI fielder's choice. In the third inning, sophomore infielder Sam Bean scored on a Kaylee Ancelot sacrifice fly to the centerfield. Northern Colorado (4-10) would answer in the fourth with two home runs to take the lead. 

Lamar University would tie the game in the bottom of the sixth when Hinojosa, a junior catcher, and Kinkade scored on a Brooke Davis single to centerfield. The Bears would score four runs in the top of the eighth. The Cardinals refused to go away quietly as Fleming scored on a Haylie Freudenberg RBI single to right center, but that would be all the Bears would allow. 

Lamar University battled valiantly again in the second game versus Houston Baptist. The Huskies scored in the first, but Big Red had an answer in the third when junior infielder Nicolette Ramirez scored on an Ancelot sacrifice fly. 

Houston Baptist (5-5) hit two home runs in the fourth, but the Cardinals answered with a home run of their own. Kinkade blasted one of her first two home runs, cutting the deficit to one run. Big Red would eventually take the lead in the fifth. Bean scored on a Fleming sacrifice bunt and a throwing error. Senior pinch-runner Aleka Xayaseng scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. 

Kinkade would blast her grand slam in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Freudenberg, Fleming and freshman pinch-runner Kalyn Xayaseng. It would not offset the seven runs Houston Baptist scored in the sixth inning. 

Lamar University now turns its focus to conference play. The Cardinals will begin their first series as Western Athletic Conference members with a doubleheader at Sam Houston. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Friday at the Bearkat Softball Complex in Huntsville, Texas. 

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