Cards Splits with FIU, FGCU - Lamar University Athletics (2024)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Lamar University softball team split its pair of games on day one of the FGCU Invitational hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University. The Cards dropped game one of the day, 7-0, to Florida International before rebounding to defeat host FGCU, 2-1, to close out play on day one.

Lamar vs. Florida International
Both starting pitchers came out the gate keeping runners of the bases as Julia Voluntad record three groundouts to start the top of the first. Megan Kugelmann did the same as she recorded five strikeouts out of the first six batters.

In the top of the second inning, the Panthers took advantage of a Cardinal error that led to one run. With runners on the corners, Jones singled to left field scoring one. Two batters later, with Jones on third, she came into score on a passed ball and LU trailed 2-0.

Voluntad returned to her first inning form in the top of the third inning. After issuing a leadoff walk, Voluntad recorded back to back ground outs and a fly out to left center ending the inning.

Lamar's bats stayed quiet in the bottom of the third inning. After the first wo batters were retired, Savana Mata collected the first hit of the day for the Cardinals with a single to left center. However, she would be left on the bases.

The lead doubled to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases loaded, Schoff singled up the middle scoring two and growing the Panthers lead to 4-0. FIU continued extended the lead to 6-0 in the top of the fifth after a bases loaded walk and on a fielder's choice ground out. After four and a half innings, LU trailed 6-0.

After the Cards were retired in the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers tacked on one more run in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs and a runner on second, Orcutt singled up the middle scoring one and growing the lead to 7-0.

Opening the bottom of the inning, Shania Amir tripled to right center for the second hit of the contest. With Amir on third and one out, Alicia DeLeon singled to right putting runners on the corners. DeLeon stole second base and Shannon Klaus was hit but a pitch, loading the bases for LU. However, the next two hitters were retired, which ended the threat and LU trailed 7-0 after six innings of play.

After keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, LU came up to the plate. With one out, Elizabeth Castillo reached on an error. Kimberly Mattox followed by drawing a four-pitch walk, putting two Cards on base. After a fielder choice, Amir stole second base. However, the Cards would leave two runners on base as the next Cardinal was retired and LU was defeated 7-0 by FIU.

In the contest, DeLeon, Amir and Mata picked up hits for the Cardinals.

Lamar vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Over the first two innings of the contest, the pitching staffs controlled the game as neither offense could get anything going. Out of the 12 outs in the first two innings, six of the outs were strikeouts.

The Cards looked to get its offense going in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Mata earned a walk putting a runner on for LU. Following her walk, Kelly Meeuwsen singled to right field. On Meeuwsen's single, Mata came around to score and Meeuwsen advanced to third on a throwing error by the Eagles.

Lewis continued to keep FGCU bats quiet in the bottom of the third. After a one out single by Callaghan, Lewis retired the next two Eagle hitters, one on a pop up and one by a ground out ending the inning.

The score stayed 1-0 in favor of Lamar until the bottom of the fifth inning. After Greco was hit by a pitch, she went to third on a ground out. She came into score on a bunt single by Callaghan tying the game at 1-1. FGCU was not done was Servideo singled putting two on with one out. Lewis locked in and got Taylor to fly out and Davenport to ground out ending the inning.

The game stayed tied at 1-1 until the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Meeuwsen singled up the middle, however, she was retired on a force out the on a ground ball hit by Klaus. With two outs and a runner on first, Castillo singled to left field moving Klaus up a base. Lewis helped herself out as she singled down the right field line scoring Klaus and putting LU ahead 2-1.

After picking up the go-ahead RBI in the top of the sixth, Lewis came back out to the circle and retired the first hitter. Clemens followed with a double to centerfield putting one runner on for the Eagles. After an out, Bauman singled putting runners on the corners. Lewis got Morrell to fly out ending the inning and keeping the Cards ahead 2-1.

Heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, Lamar needed three outs to win the game. Callaghan singled to start off the inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and a tying run on second, Lewis locked in and got a fly out to left and a ground out and the Cards came away with a 2-1 victory over Florida Gulf Coast.

Lamar picked up four hits none larger than Lewis' RBI single in the sixth inning, which resulted in the game winning run. Lewis pitched a complete game and only allowed FGCU to record seven hits in the game. She struck out one in the game and did not walk a hitter. Meeuwsen led the Cards with two hits in the contest.

The Cards return to action on Saturday, Feb. 16 when they face the Florida International and Memphis. Cards play FIU at 11:15 a.m. CT followed by Memphis at 1:30 p.m. CT. from the FGCU Invitational.