BEAUMONT, Texas – After steady improvement over the past three seasons, Lamar University's softball team will look to continue their upward trajectory for the upcoming 2024 season. The Cardinals enter the season picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference, the team's highest preseason ranking since 2018.
 
The Cardinals garnered 78 points in the preseason poll putting them behind the defending champions McNeese along with Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls. The Cowboys picked up 16 first place votes while the Lions grabbed the other two.
 
LU also boasts two members on the 2024 SLC Preseason All-Conference Second Team rosters with seniors Brooke Davis (shortstop) and Cameron Niedenthal (designated player). Davis hit .247 for the Cardinals last year with a .344 on-base percentage while Niedenthal batted .306 with four home runs and 21 RBI.
 
Davis and Niedenthal are two of eight returning players for Big Red which finished last season with a 22-36 record, which included a 12-12 conference record. The Cardinals ended the year strong winning eight of their last ten regular season games before falling just one game shy of the championship series in the conference tournament.
 
LU will start in Lake Charles, La. for the first three weekends of their season participating in various tournaments including a matchup with No. 1 Oklahoma on Feb. 17. The team's first home action will be a doubleheader against Niagara on Feb. 25.
 
All home games will be played at the LU Softball Complex. Tickets can purchased by going to www.lamarcardinals.com/tickets or by calling (409) 880-2278.