ABILENE - Abilene Christian's six-game winning streak and unbeaten start in Southland Conference play came to an end on a cold Friday night at Poly Wells Field, where Lamar scored six times in the third inning to beat the Wildcats 8-3.
The loss dropped ACU's record to 9-12 and into a tie for second place with Lamar at 3-1. The Cardinals have won their last five games and are now 15-9.
Lamar ripped 12 base hits tonight and scored all its runs between the second and third innings off ACU pitchers
Hannah Null and
Allison Turner.
A pair of two-out RBI hits by the Cardinals No. 8 and 9 batters gave them a 2-0 lead in the second. Designated player Baylie Comeaux brought home Brynn Baca from first base on a double to the gap in left-center field, and shortstop Stephanie Meeuwsen followed with a single to center to plate Comeaux from third base after a passed ball.
The Cardinals' hit parade continued into the third inning where they sent 12 batters to the plate and scored six runs on six hits, half of which were for extra-bases. Null retired the first batter she faced that frame before surrendering four-consecutive base hits that led to a 4-0 Wildcat deficit.
Turner got off to a shaky start as well with the first three batters reaching on a hit by pitch, walk and RBI single. She got the second out on a fielder's choice at home plate but then gave up another run-scoring single and hit Sable Hankins with the bases loaded.
After the third inning, however, Turner allowed just five more base runners through 4.0 scoreless frames and left two Cardinals stranded in scoring position in the seventh.
Turner finished her night with 83 pitches and Null tossed 54 in falling to 5-6 on the spring.
Clara Luna tossed a complete game for the Cardinals on 113 pitches with three strikeouts, and nearly earned a run-rule victory until giving up back-to-back RBI singles to
Peyton Hedrick and
Holly Neese with two outs in the fifth.
Hedrick later drilled a home run over the scoreboard in left field in the seventh inning for her fifth home run of the season as part of a 3-for-3 night at the plate.
Demi McNulty also doubled in the fifth and scored the first of two runs on Hedrick's infield single.
Taylor Brown walked and scored on Neese's base hit to left field.
Stephanie Meeuwsen led the Cardinals' offense with three base hits and drove in two runs. All but one Lamar starter recorded at least one base hit.
The Wildcats and Cardinals conclude their three-game series Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The start time was pushed back an hour due to cold weather.
