BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University's 3-0 record in the bracket play of the Southland Conference tournament, including two upset wins over two-time Southland Conference champion Southeastern Louisiana, has garnered national recognition from two top-25 polls.
The Cardinals (33-22) are ranked 24th in the SoftballAmerica.com Mid-Major Power Rankings as they are ahead of UNLV (25th), but trail Western Kentucky (23rd). This was the second time this season Big Red landed in the Softball America poll, having previously been ranked 24th during its school record 14-game winning streak.
LU also finds itself ranked 25th in the D1Softball.com Mid-Major Rankings, where it sits behind South Alabama (24th). This was also Big Red's second appearance on this poll, as it had been previously ranked 23rd last season following a 3-1 start to the campaign.
SLU still ranks ahead of the Cardinals in both polls, but has dropped from second to ninth in Softball America.com and from eighth to 14th in D1Softball.com.
The fifth-seeded Cardinals will play for the Southland Conference championship against No. 2 McNeese in Lake Charles, La. starting Thursday. All three games will start at 6 p.m. and be streamed on ESPN+.
