BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University tied a school record for the largest comeback in program history as it overcame a seven-run deficit to sweep Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in Friday's doubleheader at the LU Softball Complex by scores of 8-0 (5 inn.) and 8-7 and extend its win streak to 12 games. The last time LU overcame a seven-run deficit to win was against Alabama A&M (Feb. 24, 2018).
Head coach
Amy Hooks also achieved her 150
th career victory with the Cardinals and is now 17 wins away from tying the all-time wins mark held by Holly Bruder.
The Cardinals (23-15, 10-4 SLC) opened the doubleheader by run-ruling Corpus Christi, 8-0 (5 inn.), in the first game.
Isabella Flores erupted for six RBIs in her first two-homer game. She now has 42 RBIs, which is tied for second-most in a season along with Kelly Meeuwsen (2016) and will need three more to pass Shelby Henderson (2018) for the single-season record.
Reagan Smith allowed one single and struck out four batters as she pitched her eighth complete game and fourth shutout of the year.
The Cardinals' never-say-die attitude helped them to win game 2, 8-7.
Gracee Hess (HR) ignited the offense with four RBIs and was one of four players with two hits along with Flores,
Sicily Windham (RBI) and
Roxy Thompson.
Cimara-lei Wessling drove in two runs in a pinch-hitting appearance. LU used four pitchers in this game, but it was
Ava Prejean, who pitched three scoreless innings and struck out three batters to record the victory.
Game 1: LU 8, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0 (5 Inn.)
LU scored six two-out runs in the second as
Kamaryn Radford drew a bases-loaded walk while Hess took a hit by pitch. That brought Flores to the plate and she sent a deep fly ball to left field for a grand slam.
In the fourth, Radford reached on a single off the pitcher. Flores came up again and launched the second pitch to left field for an 8-0 lead, which Smith held on to and gave Coach Hooks her milestone victory.
Game 2: LU 8, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 7
The Islanders jumped out for seven runs in the first two innings on three hits while LU committed three errors defensively. The Cardinals began their comeback by chipping away four runs in the bottom of the second with a Windham RBI single and a three-run homer by Hess. In the fifth, LU put two on when pinch hitter Wessling doubled in both runners to get the deficit to one.
Defense also played a big role in the comeback as the Cardinals recorded a double play in the fourth while Radford made a game-saving diving catch to end the sixth and kept Corpus Christi from scoring. Thompson led off LU's sixth with a double and came in to score the tying run on a Hess single.
After the Islanders chose to intentionally walk
Ariel Flores,
Cala Wilson made them regret their decision by delivering the game-winning RBI single to put LU up for the first time. Prejean retired the first two hitters in the seventh, but Corpus Christi loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice. In the end, Prejean struck out the final hitter to complete the comeback.
The Cardinals will look to sweep the series Saturday with the first pitch being delivered at noon.
