BEAUMONT, Texas – Looking to get back on track in conference play, Lamar University softball welcomes in Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for a weekend series at the LU Softball Complex. The series will start with a doubleheader on Friday with games at 3 and 5 p.m. while the finale will take place at 12 p.m. on Saturday. All three games can be streamed on ESPN+.
LAST TIME OUT
LU failed to take a game on the road against conference-leading McNeese. Seven fielding errors ended up costing the Cardinals as the Cowgirls scored seven runs off those mistakes with only seven of their 19 runs in the series being earned.
KEY STORYLINES
The Cardinal offense will look for answers after recent struggles at the plate. Stranded baserunners and fielding miscues have haunted the team in their recent slump and will be points of emphasis heading into a crucial conference stretch with postseason implications.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Trinity Brandon returned to form with two home runs last weekend against McNeese including a go-ahead three-run blast in Game 2 on Saturday. All four of Brandon's home runs have come in Lake Charles as she looks to keep building momentum as the season progresses.
Kalyn Xayaseng has been a steady presence for LU since being slotted in the nine spot of the lineup. She currently sits second on the team in batting average (.313) while ranking third among qualified hitters in the Southland in walks (20) and on base percentage (.461).
Both aces for the Cardinal pitching staff managed to keep their ERAs below 2.00 after last weekend with
Emma Wardlaw (1.79) and
Karyana Mitchell (1.93) ranking third and fifth in the conference, respectively.
OPPONENT INFO: Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (19-14, 7-8 SLC)
Time: Friday at 3 and 5 p.m., Saturday at 12 p.m.
Series Record: LU 14-10
Last Meeting: TAMUCC 3-2 (5/9/23)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi sits just two games back of LU in sixth place of the Southland standings after being swept at home by Southeastern Louisiana last weekend. The Islanders have also struggled to produce runs as of late as they have totaled five runs in their last five games.
The Islander offense is led by Taniece Tyson who ranks third in the Southland in home runs (six), fourth in slugging percentage (.640) and fifth in OPS (1.054). On the mound, the team's ace is Primrose Aholelei who leads the Southland in wins (13), complete games (15), innings pitched (129.0) and strikeouts (149).
