BEAUMONT, Texas – The 2024 season for Lamar University softball will start off in familiar territory as the Cardinals head to their eastern rivals for the Cowgirl Classic in Lake Charles, La. beginning Friday. They will play four games in the tournament split between Tarleton State and Tennessee State.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Last season, Big Red improved upon their win total for the third consecutive year finishing 22-36 with a 12-12 conference record. The team picked up steam toward the end of the season winning eight of their last 10 regular season games and coming within a game of the conference championship series. The Cardinals will look to continue that upward trajectory into this campaign.
 
KEY STORYLINES
Lamar was picked to finish fourth in the conference preseason poll, their highest preseason ranking since 2018. This is also the team's highest mark under Amy Hooks who enters her sixth season as head coach.
 
The 2024 schedule should be much friendlier to the Cardinals as they will play on their home diamond 22 times, up from just 13 last season. They also will not leave Texas or Louisiana – excluding potential postseason play – as their first three tournaments all take place just across the border at McNeese.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Brooke Davis (shortstop) and Cameron Niedenthal (designated player) were both selected to the SLC Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the first Cardinals to receive preseason honors since Jade Lewis made the first team in 2020.
 
Davis and Niedenthal are two of eight returners for Big Red who lost seven of their top nine batters from last year's team in terms of batting average. The Cardinals will rely on five transfers and nine freshmen to fill the holes and propel the team forward.
 
OPPONENT INFO: Tarleton State
Time: Friday at 4 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m.
Series Record: 4-4 (Ninth and Tenth Meetings)
Last Meeting: TSU 8-4 (3/1/23)
 
Lamar's first two games of the 2024 campaign will feature a familiar foe as they face off with former WAC bunkmate Tarleton State. The Texans finished last season 31-29 with a 13-11 record in WAC play and are picked to finish fifth in their conference this year. Seniors Kelci Hill and Katy Schaefer are the team's leading returners. Hill led the team in batting average hitting .361 with 36 RBI while Schaefer mashed a team-high 11 home runs with 50 RBI and an OPS of 1.051.
 
OPPONENT INFO: Tennessee State
Time: Saturday at 1:30 p.m.; Sunday at 11 a.m.
Series Record: First and Second Meeting

The Tigers compiled a 22-26-1 record while going 12-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Junior Ryla Traylor led the team in batting average hitting .319 to go along with 22 RBIs. Senior Anayah Baker-Rowell was named as a 2024 OVC Player to Watch as she batted .266 with three home runs and 23 RBI.