BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar broke open a scoreless tie with a four-run sixth inning on the way to a 4-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the Southland Conference softball series opener Friday evening at the LU Softball Complex.
 
Southeastern (19-18, 5-8 Southland) managed just four hits against LU pitcher Ciara Luna (11-4), though the Lady Lions had several chances and left six runners on base. Lamar (22-14, 9-4 Southland) was limited to six hits by Lady Lion senior Taylor Bishop (11-10), who gave up just two earned runs in the complete-game effort.
 
Sophomore Brittney Wingate led Southeastern at the plate, by going 2-for-3 and recording her first collegiate double. Senior Katie Lacour and sophomore Kinsey Nichols also had hits for the Lady Lions. Lacour added three stolen bases to increase her conference-leading, single-season school record total to 36.
 
Southeastern looked to strike first in the top of the first inning. Lacour and Nichols each reached on errors to put a pair of runners on with one out. However, Lacour was thrown out trying to steal third and then Luna struck out junior Mychal Truxillo to get out of the inning.
 
In their half of the second the Lady Lions threatened again, as Wingate doubled into the left field corner with one out. However, Wingate was erased when she was picked off second. Luna then forced sophomore Grace DeLee to ground out to keep SLU off the board.
 
Lamar mounted its first threat in the bottom of the third inning, as Kelly Meeuwsen reached on an error and Brittany Rodriguez beat out an infield single with out. However, Meeuwsen was thrown out trying to steal third and Bishop retired Morgan Buie to keep the score tied.
 
Southeastern threatened again in the top of the fourth inning. Nichols led off with a sharp single through the left side, then advanced to second on an error on Truxillo's fielder's choice. However, Luna retired senior Amber Sather, Wingate and sophomore Angelica Gutierrez to get out of the inning.
 
Jenna Holland led off the Lamar half of the fourth with a double into the right centerfield gap. Holland moved to third on a fly ball to deep left and tried to score when Nichols' throw in skipped past Truxillo, but Bishop was able to flip the ball to Sather to get out of the jam.
 
Lamar finally took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Singles by Meeuwsen and Rodriguez put the first two runners on, the Lamar loaded the bases with no outs on an error by freshman Jaquelyn Ramon. Holland followed with a single to score a pair of runs and break the scoreless tie. Another run scored on a Bishop wild pitch, then Holland stole home to give the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.
 
Wingate led off the top of the seventh by beating out an infield single. However, Luna retired DeLee, freshman Whitney Sullivan and Ramon to secure the shutout.
 
The series wraps up with a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Live stats, provided by the host Cardinals, will be accessible at LionSports.net.