BEAUMONT, Texas – In the longest game in the recorded history of Lamar University softball, the Cardinals suffered a 4-1 defeat against Nicholls in a 13-inning thriller on Thursday. Four fielding errors and 11 stranded baserunners came back to bite Big Red on the evening.
Lamar (22-11, 8-2 SLC) looked to threaten early with runners on second and third in the bottom of the first but were unable to bring them around. Both teams found themselves locked in a pitcher's duel after that as neither offense made a serious push through five innings.
Nicholls (18-15, 5-2 SLC) would break through in the top of the sixth on an RBI triple to take the lead and seemed poised to add to it after loading the bases with no outs in the frame.
Emma Wardlaw was able to work out of the jam though and keep the damage to just one run. The Cardinals would then extend the game in the bottom of the seventh as a triple from
Veronica Harrison was rewarded by an RBI single from
Roxy Thompson to tie things up and send the game to extra innings.
Each team would leave runners on three times between in the eighth and 11th innings. LU's best chance to win came in the bottom of the 12
th when they loaded the bases on three consecutive walks. A groundout would finish out the inning, however, and send the game to the 13
th frame.
The Colonels would then retake the lead on a two-out, two-RBI double which gave them a lead they would not relinquish. Another run from a Cardinal fielding error served as an insurance score and sealed the deal for Nicholls.
Veronica Harrison (2B, 3B) recorded the only two extra-base hits for the Cardinals while
Jayne Sepulveda also had two hits.
Emma Wardlaw got the start on the mound for LU and lasted seven innings allowing one run on nine hits and a walk with three strikeouts.
Karyana Mitchell followed with six innings of relief but got tagged with the loss allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk with six strikeouts.
LU finishes off their series against the Colonels with a Friday doubleheader featuring games at 1 and 3 p.m. at the LU Softball Complex. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.
