Lamar sports information

SAN ANTONIO – Maddy Myers and Shelby Henderson each belted a grand slam as the Lamar Cardinals rolled to run-rule victories over the Prairie View A&M Panthers and Kansas Jayhawks at the UTSA Softball Tournament on Saturday. Both games ended after five innings.

Myers hit LU’s first grand slam since the program was revived in 2013 to highlight an eight-run fifth inning in the Cardinals’ 9-0 win over Prairie View A&M. Henderson’s grand slam gave the Cardinals a 9-1 lead en route to a 13-4 victory over the Jayhawks.

LU’s offensive outburst came one day after the Cardinals struggled with the bat in losses to Missouri State and UTSA on Friday.

“Wow! Our hitters are back,” LU coach Holly Bruder said. “I’m proud of this team for bouncing back after Friday.”

Overshadowed by LU’s offensive exploits were the solid pitching performances by Amie Cisneros and Laura Napoli. Cisneros (2-1) fired a one-hitter against Prairie View A&M, while Napoli (1-2) was in control throughout until Kansas scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth.

The Cardinals collected nine hits against Prairie View (1-2). Savana Guidry had three hits against, while Kelly Meeuwsen also homered against the Panthers.

LU had 14 hits against the Jayhawks, with Meeuwsen homering for the second time on the day and third of the tournament. Henderson and Guidry had three hits apiece for LU in the victory over the Jayhawks (6-2).

“Meeuwsen and Henderson were the catalysts at the plate today,” Bruder said. “It wasn’t just them, however. We had a lot of people step up today.”

The Cardinals returned home immediately following the win over Kansas to get ready for their home opener, a doubleheader against the fourth-ranked Washington Huskies, at 2 p.m. Monday.

“We’re excited to have a team of Washington’s caliber coming to LU,” Bruder said. “Any time you face a team that went to the Women’s College World Series the year before, you know it’s going to be a challenge.”