With six games left in the regular season, Lamar placed head softball coach Holly Bruder on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation into a violation of university policy.

The Cardinals then responded from the bad news to sweep another team of Cardinals.

Lamar stayed in the hunt for a Southland Conference playoff berth Friday after sweeping a doubleheader from Incarnate Word, 6-0 and 10-0 in Beaumont. The host Cardinals (27-24, 11-12 Southland) moved past Sam Houston State for the eighth and final seed.

The series finale is 3 p.m. Saturday.

Athletic director Marco Born announced Bruder’s leave Friday. “No further information is available at this time,” the announcement read.

It’s the first notable personnel action taken in the athletic department since Born was announced as its director March 29. Demi Laney is leading Lamar’s softball team for Bruder in the interim.

The host Cards rewarded Laney with two shutouts. Laura Napoli (13-13) threw a one-hit complete game, and Lamar backed her up with 11 hits.

Savana Guidry of Nederland went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Kelly Meeuwsen and Kendall Talley each had two hits for Lamar. Shannon Klaus, Taylor Davis, Elizabeth Castillo and Shelby Hughston each added a hit.

The 10-0 victory lasted just five innings due to the run rule. Lamar scored nine of the runs in the first two innings, easily giving Amie Cisneros (4-2) run support.

Shelby Henderson drove in three runs, batting 1 for 2. Talley (two runs scored, two RBI) and Klaus (two runs scored) each had two hits, while Maddy Myers, Guidry, Henderson, Davis and Castillo each hammered one.

Lamar will visit Nicholls State for a three-game set May 4-5.