BEAUMONT, Texas - The 2025 Lamar University softball season will start at the friendly confines of the LU Softball Complex as the Cardinals are co-hosting a tournament along with the University of Houston this weekend. LU will open with a doubleheader Friday against UL Monroe starting at 1 p.m, while Saturday sees the arrival of St. John's at 3 p.m. and the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns at 6 p.m.
 
Last Season
The Cardinals had their first winning season in seven years at 26-25 and also posted a 12-12 (.500) record in Southland Conference play to place fifth in the league standings.  
 
Preseason Information
The Cardinals were picked to finish fifth in the SLC Preseason Poll receiving 95 points. LU also has four members on the preseason all-conference team including first-teamers Aubrey Brown (DP) and Emma Wardlaw along with second-teamers Jayne Sepulveda (2B) and Makenzie Wright (C).
 
Amy Approaching 100
Head coach Amy Hooks enters her seventh season at the helm needing one win to reach 100 in her career. Over the last two seasons, the Cardinals have won 48 games and made the SLC tournament both times.
 
 
OPPONENT INFO: UL Monroe
Time: Friday at 1/4 p.m.
Series Record: Lamar trails, 6-10
Last Meeting: LU, 11-7 (4/25/18)
 
About the War Hawks
The War Hawks are coming off a historic season where they won 31 games, the most since 1997. This includes 12 victories in the Sun Belt Conference, the most ever in program history. Sophomore outfielder Meagan Brown and junior pitcher Maddie Nicholls were named to the Preseason All-SBC team. Brown was the SBC freshman leader in batting average (.367) while leading ULM in slugging percentage, OBP, OPS, doubles, triples and homer runs. Nicholls won 11 games in the circle, posted a 2.57 ERA and was third in the conference in opposing batting average and seventh in strikeouts.
 
 
OPPONENT INFO: St. John's
Time: Saturday at 3 p.m.
Series Record: Lamar leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: LU, 6-1 (2/22/20)


About the Red Storm
Like ULM, the Red Storm also won 31 games in 2024. Predicted to finish third in the Big East Softball Coaches' Preseason Poll, SJU is led by Big East First Team member London Jarrard, who finished in the conference top five in batting average (.405), slugging percentage (.716), on-base percentage (.506), runs scored (19), hits (30), RBIs (22), home runs (6), and total bases (53) while also breaking the school's single-season RBI record (51).
 
Also returning are juniors Jess Bianco and Ana Serafinko, who were both named to the Big East Second Team. Bianco put up a .352 batting average with 30 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, and 19 walks while Serafinko was the top SJU pitcher in ERA (2.38), innings pitched (150), and strikeouts (174).
 
 
OPPONENT INFO: Texas
Time: Saturday at 6 p.m.
Series Record: 1-6
Last Meeting: UT 8-2 (2/15/23)
 
 
About the Longhorns
UT enters this season ranked number one following a 55-win campaign in 2024 that led to an appearance in the Women's College World Series Championship Series against Oklahoma. The Longhorns were also picked to finish first in the SEC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll and had five players - Reese Atwood, Citlaly Gutierrez, Teagan Kavan, Mia Scott, and Katie Stewart named to the Preseason All-SEC Team.
 
Atwood set five school records last season with 23 home runs, 90 RBI and 163 total bases while leading the Longhorns in hits (80) and batting average (.423). In the circle, Kavan posted a 20-3 record with 135 strikeouts and a 2.20 ERA, which helped earn her Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors.


Up Next
The Cardinals will host another tournament next weekend as they will welcome in Nicholls (2/13-6 PM), Missouri State (2/14-6 PM; 2/16-1 PM), Tulsa (2/15-2:30 PM), and No. 5 Tennessee (2/15-5 PM).
 

#PeckEmCards