NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Reagan Smith pitched her third complete game victory of the season as Lamar University (15-10, 3-1 SLC) defeated Stephen F. Austin (11-14, 1-3 SLC), 4-1, to open its three-game series at the SFA Softball Field. Smith has been the winning pitcher for LU the past three games.
 
The Santa Fe native started the game by retiring the first 11 hitters before ending up allowing one run on four hits and tying a season-high six strikeouts. She was helped offensively by Veronica Harrison, who recorded three hits, including a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning. Trinity Brandon (hit) and Ava Blakely each picked up an RBI.
 
The first two innings saw both teams have their first six hitters retired in order. The Cardinals got the first hit of the game in the top of the third on a Makenzie Wright single. As the fourth inning began, Harrison singled and was pinch ran for by Makayla Valle. Following a passed ball to move Valle in scoring position, Brandon singled her in for the game's first run. Blakely then reached on an error to short that scored Brandon and put LU up 2-0.
 
While the Ladyjacks broke up a perfect game bid by Smith with two outs in the fourth, they cut the deficit in half an inning later with a leadoff triple and a double. Smith regrouped and retired the next three hitters to keep the lead. After Gracee Hess led off the sixth with a single, Harrison went yard for a two-run blast, extending the lead to three. The Ladyjacks threatened in the sixth and had the tying run up before Smith picked up a big strikeout to end the inning. A one-two-three seventh inning secured the Cardinals' win.


LU will seek to take the series with a doubleheader Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled to be delivered at noon.


 

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