BEAUMONT, TEXAS – The University of Incarnate Word softball team never got their bats going the entire weekend and they could not avoid the Southland Conference series sweep dropping the final game 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Lamar.
           
Lamar (18-11, 6-3) scored the first run of the ballgame in the bottom of the first inning when Katie Meeuwsen singled to left field driving in Brittany Rodriguez.  In the fourth inning, Brynn Baca homered to center field to make the score 2-0 in favor of Lamar.  The final run of the game was scored in the fifth inning when Ashley McDowell singled to right field scoring Rodriguez.
           
Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) made her 11^th start of the season in the pitching circle for UIW.  Once again, Stein pitched well, but the Cardinals (11-20, 2-7) could not give her any run support in the game.  Stein went 4.0 innings allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits while also striking out three batters.  Jessica Rodriguez (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) replaced Stein to start the fifth inning and she went 2.0 innings giving up one earned run on two hits.  Laura Napoli picked up her sixth victory of the season for Lamar after pitching a 7.0 inning shutout only allowing two hits.
           
Natali Duron (Pasadena/Pasadena Memorial HS) had both of the Cardinal hits in the ballgame and UIW could not figure out Napoli, who pitched very well in the game. For Lamar, Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Baca went 2-for-3 with the big home run.

The Cardinals will return to action next Wednesday as they host UTSA at 5:00 p.m. at Cardinals Field.
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