Lamar sports information

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Lamar softball coach Holly Bruder picked up her 400th career victory in dramatic fashion as the Cardinals rallied for a 10-9 walk-off win over Virginia Tech in nine innings on the first day of the Sand Dollar Classic.

Bruder, who is in her 16th season as a coach, is 400-347 (.535) overall, including a 140-146 (.490) mark at LU after reviving the program at the start of the 2013 season.

“It’s a special win, especially to do it against a team like Virginia Tech,” Bruder said. “I could go through everybody in the lineup, and mention how they contributed tonight. We got down, but we never gave up.”

The Cardinals rallied from an early 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third, an inning highlighted by a three-run home run by LU catcher Paige Holmes. The score was tied at 6 after seven innings. The Hokies seemed poised to claim the win after scoring three in the top of the eighth for a 9-6 lead, only to have the never-say-die Cardinals rally for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Maddy Myers had the big hit of the inning, a two-run single with two outs to even the score at 9.

After LU reliever Amie Cisneros kept the Hokies off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth, the Cardinals took advantage of their opportunity in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on third and one out, Virginia Tech issued a pair of intentional walks to load the bases to set up a force play. Junior Taylor Davis, playing her first game as a Cardinal after transferring from Angelina College, made the Hokies pay with a single to right field, to plate another LU newcomer, Savana Guidry, with the winning run.

“Taylor hit a rocket,” Bruder said of Davis’ game-winning hit. “What a way to come through.”

Cisneros, the third LU pitcher of the night, pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Holmes had two hits and four RBIs to lead the LU offense.

The Cardinals are scheduled to play two games today and two more on Saturday at the Sand Dollar Classic, weather permitting. The Cardinals face Ole Miss at 10 a.m. Friday before facing Alabama at 1 p.m. Friday. Saturday’s schedule calls for LU to take on Georgia Tech at noon and Lipscomb at 3 p.m.

“We will try to get some sleep tonight and be right back at it in the morning,” Bruder said. “It’s been a long day, but definitely a great one.”