Lamar sports information

LAS VEGAS — Jenna Holland became Lamar’s all-time leader in RBI Saturday as she helped the Cardinals roll to a 14-6 win over Utah Valley on the second day of the Sportco Kick Off Classic, hosted by UNLV.

LU (2-2) opened the day with a 12-2 loss to ninth-ranked Oklahoma.

Holland drove in three runs against the Wolverines, boosting her career total to 70, putting her ahead of Casey Cromwell on the all-time list at LU. Holland, who had a two-run single in the second inning to tie Cromwell’s record, set the school mark in the fifth inning when her double to right-center scored Stephanie Meeuwsen to give the Cardinals a 13-6 lead.

The Cardinals never trailed against Utah Valley, leading 3-0 after one inning, 11-1 after two innings and 12-2 after three innings. The Wolverines (0-3) made it interesting with four runs in the fifth inning, but the Cards added a run on Holland’s record-breaking RBI in the fifth before closing out the game on the run rule in the sixth when Ashley McDowell scored on Sable Hankins’ sacrifice fly.

“I thought we hit the ball well in both games,” LU coach Holly Bruder said. “We faced a very good Oklahoma team and had some chances. We really swung the bats well against Utah Valley.”

LU sophomore right-hander Laura Napoli got the decision in both games for LU. Napoli (1-2) started and took the loss against Oklahoma, allowing five hits and five runs, all earned, over two innings against the Sooners. Napoli came on in relief against Utah Valley, pitching two scoreless innings.

Ciera Luna started against Utah Valley, allowing four hits and two runs, both earned in three innings. Amie Cisneros allowed five hits and four runs, three earned, in one-plus inning of relief for LU, giving way to Napoli, who came on with runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the fifth.

Against Oklahoma, Lauren Dannelley, allowed six runs, one earned, in one inning of relief, while Luna allowed one unearned run in her one inning of work.

“Our relief pitching has to improve,” Bruder said. “The bullpen has to come through when it’s called upon.”

The Cardinals wrap up play in Las Vegas when they meet South Dakota at 3:30 p.m. Central. The Cardinals return home to host the first-ever Cardinal Classic from Feb. 19-21 at the LU Softball Complex. The five-team event will see a total of 12 games over three days.

UNLV 3, Lamar 2 (Fri.)

In the second contest of the night, the Cardinals dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to the host UNLV Rebels in a game that ended after midnight Pacific Time. That game saw Stephanie Meeuwsen become LU’s all-time leader in hits, as her fourth-inning RBI triple was her 152nd career hit, moving her past Donna Dugas, who amassed 151 hits from 1984 through 1987.

LU had its chances against UNLV, but stranded seven runners and had three more thrown out on the basepaths. The Cardinals outhit the Rebels 10-8. Meeuwsen and Baca each had an RBI for LU. Baca and Brittany Rodriguez had two hits apiece in the loss.

Sophomore Laura Napoli took the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs, one earned in a complete-game effort. Napoli walked one and struck out four. The Rebels did not have an RBI in the game, taking advantage of a pair of LU errors.