BEAUMONT, Texas - Lamar University (22-18, 10-7 SLC) split its first two games of the doubleheader with Southland Conference leader Southeastern Louisiana (33-11, 13-4 SLC) Tuesday at the LU Softball Complex. The Cardinals rallied from a 3-2 deficit in game one to win 5-3 before being on the wrong side of a 2-1 pitcher's duel in game two.
Jayne Sepulveda recorded her sixth career three-hit game in the opener to lead the Cardinals while Cala Wilson drove in four RBIs on two hits. Reagan Smith (5.1 IP) earned win number seven in the circle allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four batters. Mallory Pitre picked up the five-out save giving up a hit and collecting a pair of strikeouts.
Trinity Brandon posted two of LU's three hits in game two while Ava Blakely recorded the only RBI for the Cardinals. Despite going seven innings in her start, Pitre would suffer the loss allowing four hits and striking out a batter.
Game 1: Lamar 5, SLU 3
The Cardinals got the scoring started as Sepulveda led off with a triple while Veronica Harrison walked and was lifted for pinch runner Aubrey Brown. The two runners came home on a single by Wilson. SLU plated two of its own in the top of the third to knot the game. While Big Red led off the third with singles from Sepulveda and Harrison, both runners were stranded on base to keep the game tied 2-2.
The Lions grabbed the lead in the top of the fifth after a one-out RBI double. LU's response was to drive in three runs as Wilson recorded her second two-RBI single while Makenzie Wright singled her in to lead 5-3. With SLU putting two on with one out in the top of the sixth, Pitre was called to get out of the jam, which she succeeded getting two strikeouts to end the inning. The Lions brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but were unable to get past Pitre, who sealed the game one victory.
Game 2: SLU 2, Lamar 1
A leadoff double in the top of the second led to the Lions getting the first run across. In the fourth, SLU had a runner on with one out before a 6-4-3 double play ended the inning. The Cardinals were held without a hit until the bottom of the fourth when Wilson led off with a single. After she advanced to third, Blakely drove her in with a fly to center tying the game at 1.
By the top of the sixth, the Lions scored on a squeeze play to go ahead 2-1. In LU's half of the sixth, Brandon singled with one out but was thwarted by a Lions' double play. A 1-2-3 seventh ended the Cardinals' hopes of a comeback as the Lions held on to split the doubleheader.
The Cardinals will try to take the series Wednesday as the first pitch will be thrown at 2 p.m.
#PeckEmCards
