BEAUMONT, Texas - Southeastern Louisiana (34-11, 14-4 SLC) rallied for three runs to take down Lamar University (22-19, 10-8 SLC), 3-2 in the rubber match Wednesday at the LU Softball Complex. Kaylee Cuevas put on a strong out pitching 5.2 shutout innings for the Cardinals.
 
Trinity Brandon recorded half of LU's four hits, including its only RBI of the game. Also recording hits were Veronica Harrison and Cala Wilson. As the Cardinals' starter, Cuevas allowed three hits and struck out two batters in her outing. Mallory Pitre was tagged with the loss in 1.1 innings with three runs conceded on two hits.

At first, Cuevas had to work her way through a couple of jams. This included a bases loaded situation in the top of the third in which she recorded a strikeout to escape trouble. Held without a hit for three innings, the Cardinals broke through in the bottom of the fourth with a leadoff walk to Harrison and a Wilson double. A wild pitch scored pinch runner Mikayla Valle before Brandon singled in Wilson for a 2-0 Cardinals lead.
 
After Cuevas retired five consecutive hitters, she walked a couple of Lions with two outs in the sixth. Pitre was called upon to pitch and got a fly ball to center for the innings' final out to keep Big Red ahead. SLU tied the game off an error and a sacrifice fly to left before going up 3-2 on a solo homer. While Kalie Amos drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh, she wouldn't advance as the last two Cardinal hitters went down.
 
LU heads to Natchitoches, La., for its next three games against Northwestern State this weekend. Friday's doubleheader starts at 4 p.m., while the final game Saturday starts at noon.
 

#PeckEmCards