BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University returns to Louisiana this weekend as it will compete in the Carl Vincent Insurance Invitational hosted by McNeese. The Cardinals will play two games each with Austin Peay (Feb. 13th - 11 a.m, Feb. 14th - 11 a.m.) and Illinois-Chicago (Feb. 13th – 1 p.m, Feb. 14th – 4 p.m.).
 
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals went 2-3 in the LSU Tiger Classic during their opening week of the season. LU swept Big Ten opponent Illinois by scores of 4-3 in 11 innings and 5-2, while falling to NC State (7-1), Nevada (8-0) and No. 13 LSU (8-0).  
 
ROXY & FLORES
In the first game against Illinois, Roxy Thompson and Isabella Flores each recorded two hits to lead the Cardinals. Thompson came through in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game with an RBI double, while Flores singled in the winning run two innings later.
 
SPIRIT OF CIMARA-LEI
In game two against Illinois, Cimara-lei Wessling recorded three extra-base hits, including a double in the first, a solo homer in the third and an RBI triple in the fifth inning. Wessling finished the tournament hitting .333 with four hits, including two doubles.
 
REAGANOMICS
Reagan Smith started her senior campaign with a 1.17 ERA in three appearances with five runs (two earned) on 10 hits and 12 strikeouts. She first pitched three scoreless innings against NC State while striking out three batters. Her first start came in the second game with Illinois, where she went the distance by allowing two runs on six hits and struck out six batters as the Cardinals swept the Fighting Illini, 5-2. Her last appearance was two innings against Nevada, in which she allowed three runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
   
ABOUT THE GOVERNORS
The Governors started the season 3-2 after picking up wins over West Georgia twice (11-4, 11-7) and Drexel (10-3) at the West Georgia Opening Weekend. Brie Howard batted .412 with 11 RBI on seven hits, including four homers. In the circle, Alanah Jones went 2-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 11.2 innings and struck out eight batters.
   
ABOUT THE FLAMES
Illinois-Chicago (2-3) started the UNLV Leadoff Classic with three straight losses before picking up wins against UNLV (6-2) and Purdue (5-4). Nina Pesare leads the Flames with a .400 batting average while Ari O'Connell (.385, three RBI) and Emily Brecht (.357, two RBI) each have five hits. Jasmine Whorley is 1-1 in the circle with a 4.67 ERA and has struck out 10 batters.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals will have their first midweek action when they travel to Huntsville to take on Sam Houston Tuesday at the Bearkat Softball Complex. The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 6:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.