Lamar sports information

NACOGDOCHES — The Lamar softball team swept rival Stephen F. Austin in Southland Conference action on Friday afternoon. LU took game one, 3-2, in eight innings before completing the sweep with a 4-1 victory in the second game of the doubleheader.

With the sweep, the Cards improve to 19-21 on the season and 10-4 in Southland play, while SFA falls to 22-16 and 8-6 in Southland play.

Game One: Lamar 3, SFA 2
In the top of the first inning, Shannon Klaus singled with one out. She followed by stealing second base for her 22nd steal of the season. The steal was the 37th of her career tying the LU career school record. Shaina Amir followed with a walk putting two runners on for LU. However, they would be left stranded on base.

The Cards ran into trouble in the bottom of the frame. With two outs and a runners on third, the Ladyjacks drew back to back walks loading the bases. LU’s starter Erin Kyle locked back in and got Crawford to ground out ending the inning.

Following the first inning, both teams went down in order until the bottom of the fourth inning. Hedspeth took a 1-1 pitch and doubled to right center. After a sac bunt moved her to third, Kyle got a fly out for the second out. Becker followed with a single to right center scoring the first run of the game.

SFA extended the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out and Wolfe on second base, Kyle got a fly out for the second out of the inning. Corona followed with a double that scored the second run of the contest and putting the Ladyjacks ahead 2-0.

LU picked up its second hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning. Kelly Meeuwsen drew a four pitch walk and Klaus followed with a single to left field. Both runners advanced on a sac bunt putting two runners in scoring position. LU would leave the two runners in scoring position as the next two hitters were retired.

After allowing the second run, Kyle came back in the bottom of the sixth inning and recorded three straight ground outs. LU was heading to the top of the seventh inning trailing 2-0.

With one out, Taylor Murphy singled to get the Cards offense started. Maddy Myers followed with a single to left field putting two runners on base. Kimberly Mattox came to the plate and hit a two-run triple to right center tying the game at 2-2. Mattox would be stranded on third and we were headed to the bottom of the seventh.

Kyle continued to limit the Ladyjacks bats in the bottom of the seventh inning. The first two Ladyjacks grounded out. After a hits batter, Kyle got Corona to line out to Mattox at third base ending the inning and we were heading to extra innings.

LU broke the tie in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Jade Lewis drew a walk. After the second out of the inning, Taylor Davis walked putting two runners on. Murphy came up and singled to right center scoring one, which put the Cards ahead 3-2.

In the bottom of the eighth the Cards needed three outs to win the game. Kyle got Hedspeth and Gregory to fly out for the first two outs of the inning. After a walk, Kyle got Becker to ground out to end the inning and game. LU came away with a comeback victory.

Kyle picked up her seventh win of the season, as she pitched a complete game six hitter. She allowed two runs in the contest. Mattox led the Cards with two RBIs.

Game Two: Lamar 4, SFA 1
Early in the second game of the doubleheader, LU looked as if they would take the lead. In the top of the second inning, Savana Guidry singled. Mattox drew a walk putting two runners on. After the next two hitters were retired, Myers drew a walk that loaded the bases. LU would leave the bases stranded and the game remained scoreless.

Neither team would get anything going until the top of the fourth inning. Mattox led off the frame with a double to center field. LU’s next two hitters were retired and Myers drew a walk putting two on for LU with two outs. LU left the two stranded as the next Cardinal was retired.

SFA broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Corona doubled to right center and moved to third on a sac bunt. After Aaliyah Ruiz got Gregory to fly out, for the second out, Becker followed with a double to left field, which scored one putting the Ladyjacks ahead, 1-0.

LU bats came to life in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Shaina Amir got the rally started with a double to centerfield. Lewis followed with a double of her own, scoring Amir and tying the game at 1-1. Guidry followed with a single and Lewis moved to third. With runners on the corners, Guidry stole second base putting two in scoring position. With two on and one out, Mattox singled through the right side that score two putting LU ahead 3-1.

After taking the lead, Ruiz took control in the circle. Ruiz got the Wolfe to pop out and followed striking out Novegil for the second out of the inning. After a hits batter, Ruiz got Corona to fly out to end the inning.

LU grew the lead to 4-1 in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Meeuwsen singled to right field, and Klaus singled to left for the second hit of the inning. Amir followed hitting into a fielder’s choice and on the play Meeuwsen came around to score from second base.

Ruiz did not let the Ladyjacks get anything going in the bottom of the frame. Ruiz was locked in as she got a strikeout and two pop outs to end the frame. Leading by three, LU needed three outs to win the series. SFA got a leadoff single before Ruiz got Crawford grounded into a double play. After another single, Ruiz got Novegil to ground out ending the game as LU came away with a 4-1 victory.

Ruiz picked up her third win of the season, as she pitched a complete game. Ruiz scattered seven hits in the frame and only allowed one run.

The Cards and Ladyjacks conclude its three-game set on Saturday. The single contest is set to start at 11 a.m. at the SFA Softball Field.