BEAUMONT, Texas – After a 13-run thriller yesterday, Lamar University softball split the final two games of their weekend series against Nicholls on Friday at the LU Softball Complex. A late rally from the Cardinals fell short in a 3-2 loss in Game 1, but a shutout from Sabrina Jolin in Game 2 paved the way for a 2-0 victory.
 
Shenita Tucker (2 2B) led the Cardinals with three hits in Game 1. Brooke Davis (2B) chipped in two hits while Jayne Sepulveda and Aubrey Brown each recorded one. Emma Wardlaw got the start on the mound for LU but left after one inning with an apparent injury. Karyana Mitchell would pitch the following six innings of relief allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
 
Trinity Brandon (RBI) had two hits in Game 2 while Jayne Sepulveda knocked in a run on an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Kalyn Xayaseng also tallied her first double of the season. Jolin pitched a complete game shutout for the Cardinals allowing seven hits on 66 pitches.
 
Game 1: Nicholls 3, LU 2
 
The Cardinals managed an early run in the bottom of the first as Tucker scored on a throwing error from center field after a double to start the inning. Big Red would then attempt to extend their lead by loading the bases in the bottom of the third, but no runners were able to come across.
 
Three pitches into the top of the fourth, the Colonels were able to tie the game on a home run down the right field line. LU managed two runners in the bottom of the frame, but again, both were left stranded. Nicholls would take the lead in the top of the fifth on an RBI triple and grab another run on an RBI single in the top of the seventh to make it 3-1.
 
Big Red attempted a rally in the seventh as Tucker scored her second run of the game on a fielding error at second base on a ball hit by Brandon. The Cardinals then appeared to score the tying run on a throwing error from the catcher on a steal attempt from Sepulveda, but Cameron Niedenthal was instead called for batter interference upon review. Two runners would be stranded in the final frame as LU finished the game with nine runners left on base.
 
Game 2: LU 2, Nicholls 0
 
The Colonels threatened early in the top of the first with runners on second and third with no outs, but Brandon came up big with an unassisted double play on a lineout to get out of the jam. Jolin then stranded runners at the corners in the top of the second before LU also stranded two in the bottom of the frame.
 
A pitcher's duel commenced for the next few at-bats for both teams before the Cardinals broke through with two outs in the bottom of the fifth as a double from Xayseng was rewarded by an RBI single from Sepulveda. Brandon then beat the throw on an infield single to score another run for the Cardinals as Tucker came in to score her third run of the day and give LU a 2-0 lead.
 
Nicholls managed three baserunners in the final two innings but were unable to bring them into score as Jolin notched a victory on the mound for the Cardinals in her first game since March 12.
 
LU will face off against UTSA on Tuesday at 4 p.m. in the back half of a home-and-home series at the LU Softball Complex. Tickets can be found here.