Lamar sports information

HAMMOND — The Lamar softball team split its doubleheader with Southeastern Louisiana on Friday. The Cards dropped game one, 10-2, in six innings before rebounding and winning game, two, 6-5 in game two.

With the split the Cards improve to 20-23 on the season and 11-6 in SLC play. LU is in a four-way tie for fourth place. LU is tied with Southeastern Louisiana, Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin.

Game 1
Over the first 2 1/2 innings of the contest, Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana could not get anything going. In the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Lions got the offense going. The Lady Lions scored three runs on two hits and took advantage of two Cardinals errors taking a 3-0 lead over LU.

Savana Guidry got the Cards offense going in the top of the fourth with a bunt single to third base. After a sac bunt moved Guidry to second, she went to third on a ground out. With two outs, Kimberly Mattox tripled to right center scoring for the first run of the game for LU. Kelly Meeuwsen singled up the middle scoring Mattox trimming the lead down to 3-2.

With the Cardinals still trailing 3-2, the Lady Lions broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning. After scoring one, Southeastern Louisiana loaded the bases. Bennett came up as a pinch hitter and hit a grand slam growing the lead to 8-2. SLU added one more in the inning and after five LU trailed 9-2.

Guidry singled through the left side in the top of the sixth. She went to second on a fly out in foul territory. However, Jade Lewis would single to short and, but LU could not get anything else going in the inning.

Southeastern Louisiana added one more run in the bottom of the sixth ending the contest as the Lady Lions won 10-2 over LU.

Guidry led the Cards with two hits in the contest. Lewis, Mattox and Meeuwsen all added a hit in the game. Mattox and Meeuwsen collected both RBIs for LU.

Game 2
Lamar opened game two by getting the offense started early. In the top of the first, Shannon Klaus singled up the middle, and Guidry followed with a single to shortstop that moved Klaus to third. Guidry stole second putting two runners in scoring position. Shaina Amir followed with a sac fly scoring one putting LU ahead, 1-0. Lewis followed with a double to right field that scored Guidry extending the Cards lead to 2-0.

Cards starting Erin Kyle came out and did not allow a hit in the bottom of the first inning. Kyle walked the leadoff hitter and with one out and the runner on third, Kyle locked in and got a ground out and a strikeout to end the inning.

Big Red looked as if they were going to extend the lead in the top of the third inning. With two outs and a runner on third, Lewis drew a walk putting runners on the corners. The inning came to an end with Kimberly Mattox lined out to short.

The Lady Lions scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. After a leadoff triple, Smith singled home the first run of the game for SLU. That would be the only run of the game they would get, and we were off to the fourth with LU leading, 2-1.

Lamar extended the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth inning. After back to back singles opened the frame, Maddy Myers came up with one out. The first pitch Myers saw she hit to centerfield for a double, which scored both runners.

The Lady Lions continued to battle back and had the Cards lead down one after scoring one run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings.

The game remained 4-3 in favor of the Cardinals heading to the top of the seventh inning. In the top of the seventh, Lewis doubled to right center scoring one for LU putting the Cards ahead, 5-3. LU was not done as LU scored another run on a Lady Lions error and after 6½ innings, LU led 6-3.

SLU did not go down quietly as LU needed three outs to win the contest. After a groundout, Blackford walked putting one on. Smith followed with a single and came around to scored two, trimming the Cards lead down to 6-5. Following the two runs, the Lady Lions, reached one on error walk and another error that loaded the bases for the Lady Lions with one out. Kyle locked in and struck out Manzer looking on three straight pitches. She then got Kraft to line out ending the game and LU came away with a 6-5 victory.

Kyle picked up her eighth win of the season as she pitched a complete game. She allowed seven hits and five runs, two earned runs. She recorded four strikeouts in the contest.

Klaus, Lewis, Mattox, Meeuwsen and Myers led the Cards with two hits apiece. Lewis and Myers led the Cards with two RBIs.

The Cards and Lady Lions return to the field on Saturday when they conclude a three-game set. First pitch is set for noon at North Oak Park.