COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Facing off with #21 Texas A&M, Lamar University's softball team found themselves in another tight battle as they took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Aggies would tie the game in their sixth and would walk it off an inning later for a 3-2 victory halting LU's chance for an upset.

The Cardinals would use all four pitchers in Aaliyah Ruiz (2.0 IP, two hits, one strikeout, 0 runs), Karyana Mitchell (2.2 IP, three hits, two strikeouts, one run), Fadwa Ben Karim (0.2 IP, three hits, one run), and Cameron Niedenthal (1.0 IP, two hits, one run). Niedenthal would wind up taking the loss in the seventh inning.

On offense, the Cardinals would get home runs by both Sam Bean and Mikaila Kenney for the only runs of the game. Bean's homer was one of a team-high two hits for the game while Nicolette Ramirez, Aleka Xayaseng, and Brooke Davis each recorded a hit as well.

The Cardinals opened the game with back-to-back singles from Bean and Aleka Xayaseng. But Aggies starting pitcher Madison Preston retired the next three hitters to hold LU scoreless. The next two half innings would be similar as both sides stranded a couple runners on base with LU recording four hits. Ruiz would also pick up career strikeout 290 putting her 10 strikeouts away from 300. TAMU broke through in the bottom of the third inning to score the first run of the game on a double steal attempt.

But with one out in the top of the fifth, the Cardinals responded with not one, but two homers. Bean sent a 3-1 pitch to center field while pinch hitter Kenney went yard for her first career homer to give LU a 2-1 lead. The Aggies would tie the game in the sixth inning and loaded the bases before Niedenthal recorded the final out of the inning.

Audry Fleming came in as a pinch hitter in the seventh and led off with a hit by pitch. With Davis reentering, another pinch hitter in Estella Garza advanced her to second base with a sacrifice bunt with the top of the order due up. But neither of the top two hitters could come through and the Aggies used the newfound momentum into the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double followed bu a sacrifice fly and a walk set up a walk-off single by Trinity Cannon.

Big Red returns home this weekend for a border showdown with their rival McNeese starting this Friday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
 

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