NATCHITOCHES, La. - 20 hours after their original start time for their return to Southland Conference play got postponed due to wet conditions, Lamar University's softball team finally competed in their first conference game of the season. Taking on Northwestern State University,
Kaylee Ancelot would homer twice on the day as the Cardinals split their two games with the Demons.
The Cardinals made the most of their first SLC game in two years as they would use a five run third to spark themselves to an 8-2 win. There were three Cardinals that drove in two RBI including
Kaylee Ancelot (HR),
Brooke Davis (2B), and
Cameron Niedenthal. Ancelot and Davis would have two hits while
Nicolette Ramirez also drove in an RBI. Karyanna Mitchell would pitch the entire seven innings allowing two runs on four hits with six strikeouts.
In game two, the Cardinals nearly overcame a 5-2 deficit to fall 5-4 in seven innings.
Hayley Freudenberg would have three hits, including two doubles while Ancelot (HR, two RBI) and Niedenthal (2B) each had two hits. Niedenthal also started and went 6.0 innings allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out three batters in a losing effort.
Game 1: LU 8, NSU 2
Two outs into the first, Freudenberg reached base on a single to center field. That set up Ancelot who took the first pitch deep to left to put LU up 2-0. But the Demons answered with a run in the second inning. In the third, the setting felt very familiar to the first as Freudenberg was on base with two outs for Ancelot. Only this time, it was Ancelot who singled her to third, was lifted for Mitchell, who stole second base and then the two runners came in on a single by Niedenthal.
But the third inning wasn't done for the Cardinals as Ramirez reached on an error that scored two more runs while Davis added an RBI double to give LU a 7-1 lead. Although NSU scratched another run across in their third inning, Mitchell's pitching held them scoreless for the next three innings while Davis drove in her second RBI of the game with a single in the fifth.
Game 2: NSU 5, LU 4
NSU got on the board first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. LU would respond with a leadoff double by Niedenthal and a walk to Hinojosa before
Kalyn Xayaseng reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on an error while the two runners scored to tie the game. But the Demons answered in their second inning with three runs across and a 5-2 lead.
After being unable to capitalize with the tying run at the plate in the fourth inning, Big Red crept closer as Freudenberg doubled setting up Ancelot who waited until the fourth pitch of her at-bat to send another homer to left making it a 5-4 game. The Cardinals would put two runners on base following the homer, but neither would cross the plate. Ancelot led off the seventh with a single. Two outs later, Audry Fleming would single and steal second base to put the go ahead runners at the plate. When Davis walked, the bases were loaded. But a groundout ended the Cardinals' chance to tie or grab the lead.
LU will look to take the series tomorrow as they will have a 12:00 p.m., first pitch start.
