BEAUMONT, Texas – Currently riding a five-game win streak, Lamar University softball looks to continue building momentum as they head west on I-10 for a midweek matchup against UTSA on Tuesday at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
LAST TIME OUT
LU (21-10, 8-1 SLC) continued their dominant start in Southland play by outscoring Texas A&M-Commerce 23-2 across their three-game sweep on the road. This included a run-rule no-hitter from Karyana Mitchell in Game 2 on Friday which earned her SLC Pitcher of the Week honors.
 
KEY STORYLINES
The Cardinals currently sit in first place in the Southland after the first three weekends of conference play. They are also just one win shy of matching their win total from last year as they look to post an improved record for the third consecutive year under head coach Amy Hooks.
 
Big Red were able to do damage in big moments this past weekend as they scored 13 runs with two outs on 13 hits and five walks. This type of production will be key as the team moves forward this season.
 
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Mitchell not only pitched a no-hitter on Friday but also managed to pick up the final five outs on Saturday without allowing a baserunner to secure the win for the Cardinals. She has currently faced 34 consecutive batters without allowing a hit.
 
Not to be left behind, Emma Wardlaw also continued her stellar debut season for Big Red allowing just two runs in her three victories this past week with nine strikeouts. She ranks third in the Southland in ERA (1.73) and wins where she is tied with Mitchell (nine).
 
Both catchers for Lamar also enjoyed great weeks as they continued to try and lock down the starting position. After her first career home run last weekend, Makenzie Wright recorded two doubles in Game 1 on Friday while Raigan Brannon had three RBI in Game 2 including a two-RBI double to start the scoring for the Cardinals.
 
OPPONENT INFO: UTSA (9-24, 1-8 AAC)
Time: Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Series Record: UTSA 13-4
Last Meeting: LU 11-7 (2/19/23)
 
The Roadrunners enter this matchup on the heels of being swept by Wichita State in conference play this past weekend. They are in their first year with head coach Vann Stuedeman at the helm who most notably served as the head coach for Mississippi State from 2012 to 2019 where she led the Bulldogs to seven NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
Jaylen Prichard leads the team in batting average (.272) while ranking second in the AAC in walks (23). Camryn Robillard has a team-high six home runs while Sophie Campbell leads the Roadrunners in RBI with 15. On the mound, Jamie Gilbert has been the featured arm ranking fifth in the AAC in strikeouts (65).