BEAUMONT, Texas – Freshman Ava Blakely posted four hits for Lamar University (5-3) in two games Saturday at the LU Softball Complex, but it wouldn't be enough as the Cardinals fell to Tulsa, 6-2 before losing 13-0 to No. 6 Tennessee. LU has split its four games in the I-10 Border Classic.
In game one, a two-out rally in the seventh propelled the Golden Hurricane to pull off a 6-2 victory. Blakely finished with a team-high two hits while Gracee Hess and Jayne Sepulveda each drove in a run. Reagan Smith got the start in the circle and allowed two runs on eight hits in six innings of work. Emma Wardlaw (1.0 IP, three hits, two strikeouts) was tagged with her first loss of the season, allowing four runs in the seventh.
In the second game, Big Red managed four hits, including two from Blakely, but were shut out by the Lady Vols, 13-0 in five innings. Sabrina Jolin started for the Cardinals but took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in one inning.
Game 1: Tulsa 6, Lamar 2
Tulsa recorded six hits in the first five innings but couldn't push a run across. On the flip side, the Cardinals were held to two hits through four innings. The scoreless duel ended in the top of the sixth when the Golden Hurricane got on the board with a solo homer.
LU started its sixth inning as Blakely and Aubrey Brown put themselves in scoring position with nobody out. Hess singled to center to score Blakely while Sepulveda pulled off a squeeze play to bring in Brown and give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead. Down to their final out, the Golden Hurricane delivered an RBI single and a grand slam that made the score 6-2. The Cardinals were retired in order in the last of the seventh.
Game 2: Tennessee 13, Lamar 0 (5 inn.)
The Lady Vols jumped on LU for three runs in the first inning. After being held scoreless in the second, UT loaded the bases and came away with two runs in the top of the third. LU got its first hit from Blakely, who led off the bottom of the third with a single and was left on base.
The Cardinals had their best chance to score in the bottom of the fourth as they put two runners on with one out. Neither would cross the plate when UT secured the last two outs of the frame. The game was put away by the Lady Vols in the fifth inning with eight runs to bring the final score 13-0.
Big Red concludes the weekend with a second matchup against Missouri State Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled to be delivered at 1:00 p.m.
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