BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University softball will play its final road series of the season against Tarleton State at the Tarleton Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas. Friday will feature a doubleheader set to start at 4 p.m. while Saturday's series finale has first pitch set for 1 p.m. 

The Cardinals (9-31, 4-14 in WAC play) enter the series with momentum after nearly pulling off an upset at Texas A&M. Big Red had the bases loaded down one run in the top of the seventh, but fell just shy of completing the comeback. LU produced base runners in every inning, and scored in each of the final two innings 

Senior pitcher Aaliyah Ruiz is coming off a complete game performance in which she struck out six Aggie hitters. Ruiz now has 236 career strikeouts. The Beeville, Texas native sits in third place on the LU softball all-time list, but is 39 strikeouts shy of the all-time leader Laura Napoli. Eight games remain in the regular season, and the Cardinals are guaranteed to play at least once more in the WAC Tournament. 

Sophomore infielder Sam Bean looks to extend her 16-game on-base streak in WAC play. The streak extends all the way back to the first series in conference play at the beginning of March. Bean was placed into the leadoff spot in the final game against Abilene Christian. In her first plate appearance as a leadoff hitter, she belted her first collegiate home run. The Rockwall, Texas native finished that game 3-for-3 and was a double shy of the cycle. Against WAC opponents, Bean has reached base seven times in 13 plate appearances when placed at the top of the lineup. 

LU took the series against Tarleton State (27-20, 12-9 in WAC play) at home April 1-2. The Texans swept their next two conference opponents, but are coming off a series loss at Stephen F. Austin. 

All three games can be viewed on the WAC Digital Network. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is set for 4 p.m. at the Tarleton Softball Complex in Stephenville, Texas. 

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