PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals (11-13, 0-3 SLC) were swept by McNeese in Lake Charles, La. over the weekend in the season-opening conference series. LU had early leads in the doubleheader Friday, but fell by scores of 8-2 and 6-4. Sunday saw the Cowgirls shut out LU, 8-0 in five innings.
 
RILEY'S ALL RILEY
Riley Whitley recorded four hits, including two doubles and drove in three runs in the doubleheader Friday. The Huntington freshman is fifth on the team with 18 hits
 
   
LAST TIME VS. HOUSTON
The Cardinals lost both meetings to Houston last season. On the road, LU fell 10-6, while collecting six hits. In Beaumont, Big Red scored three runs in the first before the Cougars rallied back to win, 4-3. Cala Wilson picked up an RBI single in the contest.
 
ABOUT THE COUGARS
The Cougars (15-10) lost a three-game series to the defending national runner-up Texas Tech Red Raiders over the weekend.  Houston has already played eight games against SLC competition and is 6-2, with the only losses coming against McNeese. Maddie Hartley (.394 BA) is the team leader and among the Big XII's top 25 in hits (26) and RBIs (24). She also leads the conference in homers (10). Neveah Brown has eight wins in the circle with a 2.98 ERA and 50 strikeouts.

UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to the LU Softball Complex for four straight games beginning this weekend with a conference series Stephen F. Austin. The series opens Friday with a doubleheader (2/4 p.m.), while Saturday's first pitch will be thrown at noon.