Lamar State sports information

BEAUMONT — The Lamar University softball team hung a five spot in the bottom of the fifth inning, to come back from a 5-4 deficit to defeat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 9-5, on Saturday afternoon from the LU Softball Complex.

The Cardinals improve to 14-15 on the season and 5-1 in Southland Conference action, while the Islanders fall to 4-24 on the season and 1-5 in SLC play. With the 5-1 record the Cards currently sit tied atop of the SLC standings.

Prior to the contest, the Cardinals honored Abigail Arias, 6, as she threw out the first pitch and became an honorary Cardinal.

LU collected 11 hits in the contest and were led by Shannon Klaus, who had three hits. Shaina Amir, Savana Guidry and Taylor Murphy all added two hits each.

The Islanders struck first in the top of the first inning. With one out, Emily Vela reached on an error and she came into score on a Kennedy Johnson double to left center.

After leaving two runners on base in the bottom of the first inning, LU scored three runs in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and second, Kelly Meeuwsen drew a walk loading the bases. Klaus followed with a bunt single that scored one tying the game at 1-1. Amir followed with a single up the middle that scored two runs, putting Lamar ahead 3-1.

The lead was short lived by as the Islanders answered back in the top of the third inning. In the frame, A&M-Corpus Christi scored four runs on four hits and took advantage of two Cardinals errors. Sammi Thomas had the big hit for the Islanders as she hit a two-run home run putting A&M-CC ahead 4-3. They added one more in the inning and led 5-3.

Lamar battled back and cut the lead down to one, 5-4 in the bottom of the third inning. After a bunt single by Guidry, she went to second on a sac bunt. Murphy followed with a single that put runners on the corners. With runners on the corners, the Cards pulled off a double steal that scored one.

The game remained 5-4 in favor of the Islanders until the bottom of the fifth win the Cardinals scored five runs. LU took advantage of two Islanders errors in the frame. Murphy singled to center field that scored one. LU took the lead on a double steal that scored Guidry. LU added three more runs on back to back errors by the Islanders and LU took a 9-5 lead.

Once they took the lead Erin Kyle, who came in earlier in the contest, continued to keep the Islanders bats quiet. In the sixth, Kyle allowed a leadoff single, but the next hitter lined into a double play. She got the third hitter to ground out ending the inning. In the top of the seventh Kyle set the Islanders down in order and the Cardinals came away with a 9-5 win over the Islanders.

The Red and White return to action on Wednesday\ when they travel to Baton Rouge. to face LSU. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Tiger Park.