SAN ANTONIO, Texas - After enduring seven straight losses to open the season, Lamar University's softball would break out of their offensive struggles and put up 18 runs on day two of the I-35 tournament. The Cardinals snapped their skid with a win over Abilene Christian University, but suffered a heartbreaking loss to UTSA later that night.

LU defeated ACU 6-4 to grab their first win of the season. Sam Bean, Kalyn Xayaseng, and Kaylee Ancelot recorded two hits apiece. Bean drove in four RBIs thanks to two homers, marking the eleventh time in program history a Cardinal had a multi-homer game. Ancelot picked up two doubles while she and Hayley Freudenberg drove in a run. Fadwa Ben Karim started the game lasting 3.1 innings allowing two runs on five hits while striking out two batters. Karyana Mitchell earned the win in relief pitching 3.2 innings of two-run, six-hit ball while also striking out two.

Game two would see LU take a five run lead into the last inning only for the Roadrunners to score six runs and pull out a 13-12 comeback victory. Bean, Ancelot (two RBI), Audry Fleming, and Aleka Xayaseng each had two hits with the latter recording four RBI.

Game 1: LU 6, ACU 4

The Cardinals were able to score first in the bottom of the first Kalyn Xayaseng bunt singled, stole second and third before scoring on a Kaylee Ancelot double. Two innings later and with Aleka Xayaseng on base, Bean connected with her second homer of the season that made it 3-0. The Wildcats would rally for three runs in the top of the fourth.

But in the bottom of the frame, Bean once again came through with her second two-run blast while Freudenberg drove in the third run of the inning for a 6-3 lead. The Wildcats would score once in the sixth, but we're held scoreless in the seventh to preserve LU's first win.

Game 2: UTSA 13, LU 12

The Cardinals started the first inning with three runs on an Ancelot single and two more runs scoring when Ramirez reached on an error. UTSA responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both teams scored once in the second as the Cardinals Kalyn Xayaseng drove in Bean with a single while the Roadrunners got an RBI double and then homered to tie the game after three innings.

LU retook the lead in the fourth inning with two runs as Aleka Xayaseng scored on a throwing error and Ancelot drove in Bean. The Roadrunners would get one in the fourth to make it 6-5. Following a fifth-inning RBI fielder's choice by Aleka Xayaseng, it was tied at seven when UTSA scored twice in their frame.

Once again, the Cardinals answered as in the sixth inning, they scored five runs with singles by Fleming and Bean as well as a bases-clearing Aleka Xayaseng triple to make it 12-7 in LU's favor. After UTSA scratched a run in the bottom of seventh inning, the Cardinals stood one out away from a win. Four runs later, LU was one strike away from sealing the win. They would not get that last strike as the Roadrunners completed the comeback with a 13-12 win.

LU will get their second look at ACU tomorrow at noon.
 

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