SOFTBALL: Lamar drops two to SEC powers
Published 4:34 pm Friday, February 9, 2018
Lamar sports information
GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Lamar softball team dropped a pair of games to nationally ranked teams at the Sand Dollar Classic on Friday.
The Cardinals (1-2) threw a scare into 14th-ranked Ole Miss before the Rebels rallied for a 4-2 win in eight innings. The Cards weren’t as fortunate against 11th-ranked Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s Courtney Gettins threw a five-inning no-hitter in a 13-0 victory.
“We played a great game against Ole Miss. It was a game that could have gone either way,” LU coach Holly Bruder said. “We had some big hits and played some great defense. We didn’t capitalize on a few of our chances, and unfortunately, they were able to do that.”
LU starter Laura Napoli allowed seven hits in the complete-game loss, issuing just one walk. Two of the four runs were earned.
“Laura was tremendous,” Bruder said. “She pitched a great game for us.”
Shelby Hughston and Maddy Myers had RBI singles for the Cardinals, who led 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Rebels (3-0) tied it in the sixth before winning it on a two-run home run by Alex Schneider with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
“We played so well in our first two games here,” Bruder said of Thursday’s 5-4 win in nine innings over Virginia Tech and the loss to Ole Miss. “Unfortunately, we didn’t play like that against Alabama.”
Alabama (3-0) took advantage of eight walks issued by LU pitchers in the win. The Crimson Tide scored nine runs in the bottom of the second to take a 10-0 lead, which was more than enough support for Gettins, who struck out just one on the day.
“I was disappointed that we didn’t make any hitting adjustments,” Bruder said. “I thought she was a pitcher we could hit.”
The Cardinals are scheduled to conclude play at the Sand Dollar Classic with a pair of games on Saturday. LU is set to face Georgia Tech at 10 a.m. and Lipscomb at noon. The game times were moved up in an attempt to beat the rain that is projected to fall later in the day.
“We have to regroup and get ready for Saturday,” Bruder said. “We will be facing two very good teams.”
About I.C. Murrell
I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.
More by I.C.
