Lamar sports information

BEAUMONT — The Lamar softball team will compete in its first-ever national postseason tournament, as the Cardinals have accepted a bid to participate in the inaugural Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship. The tournament is run by Triple Crown Sports, the same organization that conducts the WNIT in women’s basketball.

“We are thrilled to be able to compete in a national tournament,” LU coach Holly Bruder said. “I know this is something special for our players. For a fifth-year program to receive recognition like this is a tremendous compliment.”

The first-round pairings and locations will be announced Sunday evening after the announcement of the 64-team NCAA field. The NISC field will consist of a double-elimination format at six regional sites. The six regional champions would compete in the championship round, which would also be a double-elimination format, with the title games on ESPN3. Regional competition starts Tuesday.

The Cardinals (28-28 overall, 17-10 Southland Conference), were the No. 3 seed in this week’s Southland Conference tournament. LU has an RPI of 116, the third-best in the conference, behind McNeese State and Nicholls State.

In Friday’s Southland tournament action in Conway, Ark., Central Arkansas beat Northwestern State 7-4 before losing to Nicholls State 4-2 in the semifinal round. Nicholls will play McNeese State for the championship at 10:45 a.m. today.