Lamar sports information

COLLEGE STATION — After a season-opening 7-5 win over Central Michigan, the Lamar Cardinals gave the Texas A&M Aggies quite a battle before dropping a 2-1 decision on the first day of the Aggie Classic on Friday.

The day didn’t get off to a great start for the Cardinals (1-1), who fell behind 4-0 in the first inning to Central Michigan before erupting for seven runs in the fourth inning.

The Chippewas got to LU starter Laura Napoli early, but the junior right-hander, who was making her school-record 78th pitching appearance, settled down to keep the Cardinals in the game.

LU got five of its six hits in that decisive fourth inning, with Paige Holmes and Elizabeth Castillo each ripping two-run doubles in the frame.

Napoli allowed nine hits and five runs, four earned, over 5 2/3 innings for the win. Ciara Luna got the final four outs for her first career save. Castillo had two hits in the win.

Against Texas A&M, LU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when Kelly Meeuwsen walked and eventually came around to score on a throwing error.

The Aggies, who were held in check by Luna for much of the game, were able to push across two runs in the bottom of the sixth after being given a second life. Luna appeared to be out of the inning when Kristen Cuyos lofted a ball to right field with a runner on third with two outs. A miscommunication in the LU outfield allowed the ball to drop in safely to tie the score. Texas A&M pitcher Samantha Show helped her own cause with an RBI double to give the Aggies the lead for good.