MONROE, La. –
Cimara-lei Wessling recorded four hits and homered during the final two games of the UL Monroe Best of the Bayou Tournament Sunday, but Lamar University came up short in two comeback efforts against Northern Iowa and the Warhawks.
LU nearly overcame a five-run deficit before falling, 8-6, against the Panthers in the first game. Wessling (two RBIs, HR),
Cala Wilson (HR) and
Isabella Flores (RBI) each recorded two hits.
Madison Guidry pitched six innings and struck out six batters in a losing effort.
The Cardinals took an early lead against ULM but couldn't hang on as the Warhawks rallied to win 7-3. Wessling once again had two hits and added a double, while
Gracee Hess went yard for two RBIs.
Kaylee Cuevas took the loss in the circle, striking out a pair of batters.
Game 1: Northern Iowa 8, LU 6
UNI went up 2-0 in the first inning on a two-run homer.
Gracee Hess led off the top of the third with a walk and came around to score on an RBI double by
Riley Whitley. The Panthers responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame.
Isabella Flores doubled in Wilson in the top of the fourth before she scored on an error to cut the deficit in half. Once again, UNI added three runs in the bottom of the fourth to be up 8-3. Wilson's solo homer in the sixth was followed by a two-run shot from Wessling in the seventh to get within two. The Cardinals had a runner on and the tying run at the plate with two outs, but a popup in foul territory ended the comeback bid.
Game 2: UL Monroe 7, LU 3
LU struck first in the second inning as a two-out rally saw Windham singling in Hess from second. The Warhawks answered back with three runs in their half of the second inning. With one out in the top of the third, the Cardinals had a runner in scoring position and the tying run up, only to have the rally killed off by a double play.
Down 4-1 in the top of the fourth, the Cardinals got a one-out single from
Ariel Flores before Hess sent the first pitch she saw over the right field fence to get within a run. From that point on, the Warhawks had control and picked up three insurance runs to pick up the victory.
LU will head to Hattiesburg, Miss. to compete in the Southern Miss Hub City Classic. The tournament starts Friday when the Cardinals will take on Morehead State (9 a.m.) and Chattanooga (2 p.m.).
