SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Lamar University (28-24, 15-11 SLC) trailed 3-1 and had one out to play in game one of Saturday's doubleheader when
Gracee Hess delivered a game-tying two-run homer, which helped propel Big Red to a 4-3 win in 10 innings over UIW (27-19, 16-10 SLC) at H-E-B Field. Despite overcoming a six-run deficit in game two, Lamar fell 7-6 on a walk-off hit to finish the day with a split. With Stephen F. Austin losing twice to McNeese, LU occupies the Southland Conference's fifth seed by a game heading into Sunday's regular season finale.
Hess's homer was one of two hits she had in game one.
Veronica Harrison led LU with three hits, including the game-winning RBI, while
Ava Blakely added two hits.
Reagan Smith started the game and went 8.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Reliever
Madison Guidry (1.2 IP) conceded one hit to earn the victory.
In game two,
Trinity Brandon and Harrison (RBI) each recorded two hits while
Cala Wilson and Blakely delivered two-run homers. Starting pitcher
Mallory Pitre (1.1 IP, three runs, three hits), and Guidry (1.1 IP, three runs, five hits) combined to allow six runs. LU's third pitcher,
Sabrina Jolin (3.2 IP, three hits), took the loss after giving up the winning run.
Game 1: Lamar 4, UIW 3 (10 Inn.)
UIW plated two first-inning runs to open the game. Lamar got on the board with a third-inning RBI single by Brandon to score Hess only to allow a solo shot by UIW's Jaisy Caceres in the bottom half. For the next three innings, Big Red struggled to put runners on base as UIW starter Larissa Jacquez tallied eight of her 13 strikeouts through six innings.
Aubrey Brown reached base in the top of the seventh with one out. Following a strikeout to
Kalie Amos, LU was down to its final out as Hess came to the plate. On the first pitch she saw, the Belle Chasse, La., native sent a two-run homer to left-center, tying the game at three. UIW loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh before Smith struck out pinch hitter Madison Hudson to send the game to extra innings.
Neither side scored in the eighth and ninth innings. Then, LU opened the 10th with an Amos single and a walk to Hess. Two outs later, Harrison stepped up and singled in Amos to put LU up 4-3. Guidry retired the first two batters in the bottom of the 10th. After giving up a single to Jillian Gutierrez, she faced off with pinch hitter Kennedy Hill. With the 0-2 pitch, Hill sent the ball to deep center where Hess camped underneath at the warning track to secure the final out and preserve LU's game one victory.
Game 2: UIW 7, LU 6
Again, UIW broke out early as it scored three runs in both the first and third innings to lead 6-0. LU's bats were silent in the first three innings as it recorded one hit. Once the fourth inning started, a Big Red comeback was set to take place. Brandon led off with a triple and was followed by an RBI single from Harrison. Wilson then homered to left field to make it a 6-3 deficit. After a walk to
Raigan Brannon, Blakely sent her first homer of the season out to left field, bringing LU within a run. Brown doubled and would score on a game-tying single by Amos.
The score stayed tied at six as LU threatened in both the sixth and seventh innings. Blakely was caught trying to steal third to end the sixth, while Brannon hit a line drive that was snagged by the diving first baseman to end the seventh. It took UIW three batters to walk off game two, 7-6.
LU and UIW will conclude Sunday with the first pitch beginning at noon. Big Red will need to win or have SFA lose to clinch the fourth seed.
