CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Lamar University (6-5) saw its first action Saturday in the Chattanooga Frost Classic after Friday's games were canceled due to frigid conditions. The Cardinals, however, dropped both games to Chattanooga and IU-Indianapolis by scores of 5-4 and 3-2, respectively.
Jayne Sepulveda led LU with two hits in the first game versus the Mocs while
Trinity Brandon drove in a team-high three RBIs.
Reagan Smith (6.0 innings) was tagged with her first loss of the season, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out six batters.
Sepulveda had another two-hit game against the Jaguars, including her first homer of the season. Starting pitcher
Mallory Pitre surrendered two runs on five hits in 3.0 innings.
Madison Guidry was the losing pitcher after four relief innings allowing one run on one hit.
Game 1: UTC 5, Lamar 4
After Sepulveda singled to left in the first inning, Brandon made it 2-0 with an opposite-field homer to left. UTC answered back in the bottom of the first with a three-run homer to lead 3-2. Brandon drove in her third RBI in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
Hess gave LU a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth when she singled in
Raigan Brannon only for the Mocs to strike back for two in the bottom of the frame. LU had two runners on base in the fifth, but was unable to drive in either. While the Cardinals had the leadoff runner get on base in the seventh inning, the next three batters were retired in order.
Game 2: IUI 3, Lamar 2
Neither side would break through in the first three innings. That changed in the fourth as the Jaguars took a 2-0 lead courtesy of a lead-off homer and a sacrifice fly. LU had an answer in the bottom of the fourth as Sepulveda led off with a solo home run while
Veronica Harrison scored the tying run on a wild pitch.
IUI retook the lead in the sixth on an RBI double. The Cardinals once again threatened in the last inning as
Sicily Windham singled to lead off and would advance to third with two outs. Unfortunately, LU's last hitter grounded out to the pitcher ending the game.
The Cardinals will have two more games as their previously canceled contest with Indiana State will now take place at 9:00 a.m., Sunday. LU will face Illinois State at 11:30 a.m.
