BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University softball finishes its non-conference schedule with a doubleheader against Texas Southern with game one starting at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the LU Softball Complex. 

Junior infielder Nicolette Ramirez is coming off a monstrous performance Friday at Tarleton State. In one game, she finished 4-for-5 at the dish, driving in five runs and scoring three more. Ramirez finished a triple shy of the cycle. 

Freshman outfielder Piper Hankins also had quite the game during the 11-9 victory as the Euless, Texas native finished 3-for-3. Hankins produced her first career extra-base hit, a double, in the first inning. She added two runs and drove in another during the contest. 

Senior pitcher Aaliyah Ruiz is currently chasing history. Ruiz is 30 strikeouts away from the LU softball (10-33) all-time strikeout queen Laura Napoli, who sent 275 victims back to the dugout during her time in the Golden Triangle. Ruiz is also 24 strikeouts away from Ciara Luna, who compiled 269 strikeouts during her career. Ruiz had a stellar performance at Texas A&M April 27, nearly picking up the win. Ruiz allowed just two earned runs on five hits and three walks. She pitched a complete game, her 13th of the season, while striking out six Aggie batters. She followed up the performance with a win at Tarleton State in which the Beeville, Texas native stuck out seven hitters. 

Texas Southern (24-17) is having a quality season this year. Entering Tuesday, the Tigers are the only school in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to post a winning record. 

The doubleheader is the start of the final home stand of the season. The home stand will feature five games at the LU Softball Complex, which includes the final conference series this weekend. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday with game two scheduled for 5 p.m. Both Tuesday games will be streamed live on the WAC Digital Network. 

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