BEAUMONT, Texas – An eight-run first inning ignited Lamar University to take down Houston, 13-5, in six innings for its seventh straight victory Tuesday at the LU Softball Complex. Senior Gracee Hess came through with her third walk-off hit of the season.
 
The Cardinals battered the softball for a season-high 16 hits. Hess led all players with a career-high four hits and four RBIs for the night, which included one double. Isabella Flores and Roxy Thompson each drove in three RBIs on three hits, while Sicily Windham (RBI) added two hits. Reagan Smith (3.0 innings, four hits, four runs, one strikeout) earned the victory in the circle. Ava Prejean allowed one run on four hits and struck out three in her three-relief innings.
 
LU sent 12 batters to the plate in the first and recorded six singles to drive in the eight runs. Hess would drive in two runs in her second at-bat of the inning before adding another in the third to put the Cardinals up nine. After being shut out for three innings by Smith, the Cougars scratched four runs across in the fourth and removed her from the game. Prejean came in and prevented Houston from getting within striking distance.
 
With two outs in the fifth, Hess was hit by the pitch and came in to score on Flores' double. Houston closed the gap to five in its half of the sixth, but the Cardinals put together another two-out rally that featured a two-run triple by Thompson. Hess later came up and singled off the pitcher to score Thompson and ended the game.
 
LU will resume Southland Conference play with a three-game home series against Nicholls beginning Friday (2/4 p.m.) and ending at noon Saturday. All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 

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