LAKE CHARLES, La. – Freshman
Riley Whitley recorded four hits and drove in three runs in Lamar University's first Southland Conference doubleheader against McNeese Friday, but the Cardinals couldn't hold on to their early leads and dropped each contest.
Whitley's two-run single in the first inning of game one would be the only runs scored as LU fell, 8-2. She finished the game with two hits while
Gracee Hess,
Isabella Flores and
Cimara-lei Wessling picked up a hit. Starting pitcher
Reagan Smith took the loss in 1.1 innings while allowing four runs.
LU led 4-1 after five innings in game two before the Cowgirls scored five runs in the sixth to win, 6-4. Once again, Whitley had two hits along with
Cala Wilson (RBI).
Madison Guidry pitched 5.1 innings and was tagged with the loss in the circle.
Game 1: McNeese 8, LU 2
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the top of the first with two outs when Whitley drove in Hess and
Ariel Flores for the early 2-0 advantage. McNeese responded with seven runs in three innings.
LU threatened to cut into the deficit in the fourth and fifth innings by putting two runners aboard, but was unable to get the hit. The Cowgirls added one run in the sixth before shutting Big Red down in the seventh.
Game 2: McNeese 6, LU 4
LU scored three runs in the first two innings with help from three Cowgirl errors and two sacrifice flies from
Makenzie Wright and
Ariel Flores. The Cardinals had an opportunity to go further ahead in the third after Wright and Whitley got on base with nobody out, but both were left stranded.
Guidry kept the Cowgirls off the scoreboard for three innings before having to escape a jam in the fourth despite allowing a run. Wilson led off the fifth with a double and scored on a Whitley single to lead by three. Then came the sixth inning and the Cowgirls came back to lead 6-4 after a two-run single and a two-run homer. LU was then retired in order in the seventh.
Big Red will look to avoid being swept Saturday as it will conclude the series with the Cowgirls at 12 p.m.
