BEAUMONT, Texas – With another close win under their belt, Lamar University softball look to keep their spot atop the Southland as they travel north for a weekend series against Texas A&M-Commerce. Friday will feature a doubleheader with games at 5 at 7 p.m. with the finale coming on Saturday at 12 p.m. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
LAST TIME OUT
LU (18-10, 5-1 SLC) squeaked out a 3-2 victory on Tuesday at home against Sam Houston with the go-ahead run coming on a fielding error from the Bearkats in the bottom of the sixth. Karyana Mitchell exited the game with an apparent ankle injury in the fifth inning, but Emma Wardlaw took over and managed to record the win on the mound.
 
KEY STORYLINES
Lamar's win on Tuesday was their eighth one-run win of the season with all but one of those games featuring the Cardinals scoring four or less runs. The team has built a resilient identity by winning close games including six where they score the winning run in their final time up to bat. Defensive prowess and stellar pitching have been things for Big Red to hang their hats on this season with a young and largely new roster.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jayne Sepulveda has found her groove again as she showcased with an RBI double on Tuesday. In her last four games, she is 5-for-12 with two doubles, two RBI and four runs for the Cardinals. This success comes after moving up a spot in the lineup two weeks ago.
 
Veronica Harrison has been showing out in her freshman campaign with hits in seven of her last nine games. Her 11 RBI through six conference games lead the Southland buoyed by her grand slam over the weekend. She is also one of four Cardinals to play in every game this season along with Shenita Tucker, Trinity Brandon and Cameron Niedenthal.
 
Both Mitchell and Wardlaw responded nicely on Tuesday from rough starts last weekend. Mitchell had a one-hitter going before taking a line drive off her ankle in the top of the fifth, and Wardlaw allowed just three in relief and was able to work out of a jam leaving runners stranded on second and third in the top of the sixth.
 
OPPONENT INFO: Texas A&M Commerce
Time: Friday at 5 and 7 p.m., Saturday at 12 p.m.
Series Record: LU 3-0
Last Meeting: LU 2-1 (5/6/23)
 
This will be the second series all-time between Lamar and Texas A&M-Commerce with the Cardinals sweeping their three meetings last year to finish out the regular season. One of those wins was highlighted by a walk-off, two-run home run from Mikaila Kenney. The Lions (5-26, 0-6 SLC) have fallen on hard times as of late as they enter the weekend having lost 18 consecutive games and 25 of their last 26 after starting out 4-1.
 
Tehya Pitts has been the most consistent bat for the Lions batting .312 with 13 stolen bases. That total puts her second in the conference behind Lamar's own Tucker while Ashlynn Griffith ranks fourth with 11 steals. The pitching staff has been susceptible to extra-base hits with Lions' pitchers ranking second, third and fourth in the conference in terms of doubles allowed and first and second in home runs allowed.