SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The second game of the softball series between the Cardinal teams of Lamar University and the University of Incarnate Word started at 4:30 p.m., yesterday. 20 hours later, after a postponement due to weather, it finished as LU's softball team emerged winners to take the series. Although they would fall in the third game against UIW, LU maintains a two-game lead over UIW for the seventh and final seed in the Southland Conference tournament with three to play. 

Game 2 wound up being 8-1 in LU's favor as once again, Aaliyah Ruiz got the start and would pitch a complete game win striking out three batters in the process. Kaylee Ancelot, who homered in the first game would add a home run, which was one of three hits and three RBI for the game while Hayley Freudenberg had two hits and Sam Bean drove in two RBI. 

But UIW would avoid being swept as they ended the series with a 9-0 shutout win in game three. LU was held to just three hits offensively while Karyana Mitchell took the loss allowing three first-inning runs while striking out one in 1.0 inning of work. 

Game 2:  LU 8, UIW 1

To recap the action from yesterday, with two outs in the first inning, Ancelot homered for her second homer of the day. But UIW responded in the bottom of the first with a solo homer. In the second inning, a pair of LU errors put two UIW runners on base. But again, Ruiz settled down and was able to escape the jam. The score stay tied at one until the top of the sixth inning when Nicki Ramirez drew a walk and was lifted for Kalyn Xayaseng. After Mikaela Kenney doubled to advance the runner to third, Davis reached on an error to score Xayaseng and give LU a 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, Eliza Garza drew a walk to extend LU's had to 3-1.

And that was when the game was halted due to the incoming storms. Once play resumed, LU tacked on five more runs with two run doubles by Bean and Ancelot followed by an RBI single from Freudenberg. 12 hours after it began, LU's top of the sixth inning finished with Big Red having an 8-1 lead. Ruiz would only allow two baserunners on in the sixth, but retired the rest of UIW's hitters throughout to earn her third win of the week. 

Game 3: UIW 9, LU 0 (5 Inn.)

UIW's bats would come alive in the third game as they scored three runs in both the first and second innings to take a 6-0 lead. LU threatened in the third inning with two on and out, but would be erased with a fielder's choice and a fly out to left. UIW then added three more runs in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach with a nine-run victory after LU was retired in order in the fifth. 

With only one three-game series to go against Texas A&M-Commerce, LU's lead against UIW for the seventh and final seed is up to two games. LU will need to win one more just to punch their ticket to the conference tournament. The series with AMC will take place at the LU Softball Complex and will begin Friday at 3:00 p.m., with a doubleheader. It will also be the last home series for eight members on the Cardinals. 
 

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