NATCHITOCHES, La. — Kelly Meeuwsen’s three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning sparked the Lamar softball team to a 4-2 win over host Northwestern State in the opening game of a Southland Conference doubleheader on Friday.

LU’s bid for a second come-from-behind win fell short in a 6-4 loss to the Lady Demons in the nightcap.

The Cardinals (20-13, 7-4 Southland) scored all of their runs in the first game in the seventh inning to stun the Lady Demons (21-12, 6-5) Corina Thornton and Sarah Ragsdale each had one-out singles to start the rally before Meeuwsen crushed a 2-1 pitch from Northwestern state starter Micaela Bouvier over the wall in right-center to give LU a 3-2 lead. LU would add another run in the inning on an RBI from Sable Hankins to give LU starter Ciara Luna a two-run cushion.

Luna (9-3) set the side down in order on 10 pitches in the bottom of the seventh to close the deal.