Lamar sports information

NACOGDOCHES — For the second time this series, the Cardinals of Lamar and Ladyjacks of Stephen F. Austin would play to extra innings. This time, the Ladyjacks would come away with a 3-2 victory over LU in eight innings.

With the loss, LU falls to 19-22 on the season and 10-5 in Southland play, while Stephen F. Austin improves to 23-16 on the season and 9-6 in Southland play.

Jade Lewis led the Cards at the plate as she went 2-for-4 in the contest. LU had five hits in the contest, with four different Cardinals collecting a hit. Julia Voluntad went 7 2/3 innings in the contest and allowed seven hits and three runs, two earned.

In the bottom of the first inning, SFA took the lead as Becker and Corona had back-to-back singles. After a ground out for the second out of the inning, the Ladyjacks scored on a Cards throwing error taking a 1-0 lead.

LU struggled to get the bats going early in the contest. Through four innings of play, Ladyjacks starter Kassidy Wilbur did not allow the Cardinals to collect a hit and recorded three strikeouts.

In the top of the fifth inning, LU picked up its first hit of the game when Jade Lewis singled through the left side of the Ladyjacks infield. She advanced to second on a sac bunt by Savana Guidry. Kimberly Mattox drew a walk putting two runners on for LU. Taylor Davis followed with a single, which loaded the bases for Lamar. Taylor Murphy struck out for the second out of the inning.

With the bases loaded, and two outs, Maddy Myers was hit by a pitch scoring the first run of the game for LU. Kelly Meeuwsen followed with a single to left field that scored another run and LU took a 2-1 lead over the Ladyjacks.

After taking the lead, in the top of the fifth, the Ladyjacks tied the game in the bottom of the frame. After Julia Voluntad got the first batter to strikeout, Corona came up to bat. With a full count, she hit a homerun over the left field fence. Voluntad got the next two hitters retired and after five we were tied at 2-2.

After an hour and 47-minute weather delay, LU came up to the plate in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Lewis singled to right center, however, she would be left stranded on base. Neither team could get anything going in the bottom of the sixth or the seventh innings and we were heading to extras for the second time in the series.

After Wilbur set the Cards down in order in the top of the eighth, the Ladyjacks came up to the bat. Hedspeth led off with a single. She advanced to third on back-to-back ground outs. With two outs and a runner on third, Gregory singled down the right field line that scored the winning run for SFA. The Cards were defeated, 3-2, by SFA.

LU returns to action on the Friday when they travel to Hammond, Louisiana, to face Southeastern Louisiana in Southland action. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. from North Oak Park.