BEAUMONT, Texas – After two weeks away, the Lamar University softball team returns to the LU Softball Complex, opening up its home conference schedule with a three-game series against Abilene Christian. 

Friday will feature a doubleheader with game one set to start at 4 p.m. first pitch with the second game slated for 6 p.m. Saturday's first pitch is set for noon. The Cardinals will be dedicating this weekend's games to the fight against cancer and will honor cancer survivors at the field. 

Lamar University (4-14, 0-3 in WAC play) will look for a strong offensive output from some of its big bats. Junior infielder Hannah Kinkade and sophomore outfielder Audry Fleming blasted three home runs each in the first month. Kinkade also opened conference play with a .667 on-base percentage. Both players are hitting at least .400 in WAC play. Senior infielder Kaylee Ancelot has also added plenty of production, boasting a .304 batting average in overall competition alongside two home runs. 

Freshman pitcher Haila Linton has shown promise in her first month of competition. In her first 19.1 innings pitched, she did not surrender any walks. Linton picked up her first career win during the Houston Tournament when the Cardinals picked up a 5-3 victory over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Senior pitcher Aaliyah Ruiz has secured three of Big Red's four victories. Ruiz currently sports a 3.75 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Ruiz has tossed four complete games this season, including one which went 12 innings. 

This is the first time Lamar University will face Abilene Christian (9-12, 1-2 in WAC play) since 2019. Big Red won the series in the 2019. The series was set to continue in 2020, but the games were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being members of the same conference, the two teams did not meet in 2021, Lamar University holds a 9-4 lead all-time against Abilene Christian. 

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