BEAUMONT, Texas – As the Southland Conference season comes down to the wire, Lamar University is currently fourth in the league standings following three losses over the weekend. The Cardinals are starting a six-game homestand at the LU Softball Complex with a rare midweek series against Northwestern State Tuesday (3/5 p.m.) and Wednesday (2 p.m.). All games will be streamed on ESPN+.
 
PREVIOUSLY
The Cardinals (25-18, 11-7 SLC) saw their 14-game win streak come to an end as they were swept by Southeastern Louisiana, 8-0 (5 inn.), 8-1 and 4-0 in Hammond. Ariel Flores recorded an RBI double in the first inning of game two, giving LU its only lead of the series.
 
A COMPLEXING PROBLEM AT LAMAR
LU returns to the friendly confines of its home venue, where it is currently 11-1 on the season. Big Red has won 10 straight games dating back to game two of the series against Stephen F. Austin, where Isabella Flores delivered a walk-off three-run homer for a 6-5 victory. The Cardinals are 40-20 in home games over the last three seasons.
 
SOUTHLAND SCENARIO
Five teams are separated by two games for the No. 2 seed, which will be hosting one of the two brackets in the upcoming SLC tournament. UIW and Nicholls are both tied for second at 12-6 one game up on LU, while McNeese and NSU are two games back in fifth. For the midweek series, UIW is hosting East Texas A&M, the Colonels are taking on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and the Cowgirls will do battle with Houston Christian.
 

 
OPPONENT INFO: Northwestern State
Time: Tuesday (3/5 p.m.); Wednesday at Noon
Series Record: NSU leads 32-23
Last Meeting: LU, 5-3 (Apr. 12, 2025)

 
LAST TIME VS. NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Cardinals swept the Demons in Natchitoches, La. last season by scores of 6-2, 4-1 and 5-3.  Kalie Amos (two runs) and Sicily Windham (RBI) recorded two hits, while Reagan Smith struck out five batters in a complete-game effort in game one. Mallory Pitre earned the win, allowing just one run on seven hits in game two. Ava Blakely's two-run single in the fifth was the deciding factor in game three.
 
ABOUT THE DEMONS
The Demons (20-21, 10-8 SLC) dropped two of three to UIW in their last series. NSU's ace in the circle is Madison Buster, a three-time conference pitcher of the week, who leads the league in wins (18) and strikeouts (94). Brynn Daniel tops the Demons with a .361 batting average and 39 hits, while JT Smith has driven in a team-high 25 runs.
 
UP NEXT
LU will have its final home series of the season when it hosts UIW Friday (2/4 p.m.) and Saturday (noon). All three games will be streamed on ESPN+.  
 

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