BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University has won four of the last five games and will head to Monroe, La. to compete in UL Monroe's Best of the Bayou Tournament this weekend. The Cardinals will play Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Feb. 20-12 p.m.) before having two with both Northern Iowa (Feb. 21-12:30 p.m., Feb. 22-11 a.m) and the Warhawks (Feb. 21-5:30 p.m.).
 
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals won their first midweek contest of the season by defeating Sam Houston, 9-4 in Huntsville Tuesday. Cimara-lei Wessling recorded a team-high three hits while both Riley Whitley and Cala Wilson homered. Reagan Smith took a no-hitter into the fourth inning to get the win while Madison Guidry pitched three shutout innings to earn her first save of the season.
 
OFFENSE BREAKOUT
Over the last five games, LU has scored 46 runs. Four of those games saw the Cardinals plate nine runs or more and twice did they go into double figures.
 
IT MUST BE THOSE CONVERSE SHOES
Wessling, the sophomore from Converse, has shot her batting average up to .414 after producing eight hits, four RBIs, and three doubles in the last five games. She is currently ranked eighth in the league in batting average.
   
ABOUT THE LIONS
The Lions began their season by taking two of three against Western Illinois at their home venue. Chasney Cooper and Ryen Gaddis are both hitting .500 and have driven in an RBI, while Kaydrian Fields leads with two RBIs. In the circle, Heidi Price went seven innings, allowing three runs and striking out six batters to earn one of Pine Bluff's wins.

   
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
The Panthers (2-4) are coming off a 12-0 shutout loss to Central Arkansas Wednesday. Kate Lappe has the team lead in batting average (.533) and RBIs (seven) while Sykora Smith is the only Panther with 10 hits. The pitching staff is led by Anna Wischowski, who in 16.1 innings has one of the two wins and struck out 11 batters. Morgan Vertz has made two appearances in the circle and has yet to concede a run in 7.2 innings. 
 
   
ABOUT THE WARHAWKS
The Warhawks (7-4) have won six consecutive games, including a 5-0 mark in the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagle Invitational, in which they outscored their opponents, 34-9. Elle Carter (.444 BA, two doubles), Meagan Brown (.414 BA, three doubles, two triples) and Hollie Thomas (.343 BA, three doubles, two homers) each have 12 hits and seven RBIs. In the circle, Ashanti McDade is 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA and has one shutout while Skylar Waggoner leads the pitching staff with 18 strikeouts. 
 

UP NEXT
LU will conclude its tournament season by heading to Hattiesburg, Miss., for the Southern Miss Hub City Classic. The Cardinals will take on Morehead State (Feb. 27 – 9 a.m, Mar. 1 – 10 a.m.), Chattanooga (Feb. 27 – 2 p.m.), Jackson State (Feb. 28 – 9 a.m.) and the Golden Eagles (Feb. 28 – 2 p.m.).