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HOUSTON – Lamar rode an eight-run first inning to claim an 8-2 victory and 2-1 series win over the HBU softball team to open Southland Conference play on Sunday afternoon at Husky Field.
 
The Cardinals (12-9, 2-1 SLC) sent 12 players to the plate in the opening frame, capitalizing on six hits, one error and one hit batter to take a commanding lead. Sophomore right fielder Brittany Rodriguez extended her school-record hitting streak to 17 games with a 2-for-4 showing, one of four Lamar players to record a multi-hit performance.
 
The Huskies (9-10, 1-2 SLC) were led offensively by senior catcher Caitlin Gunn. The native of Seabrook, Texas, finished 2-for-3 with a walk and one run scored.
 
Freshman shortstop Savana Guidry and junior right fielder Cecilia Bauer each turned in 2-for-4 marks at the plate. Guidry and freshman second baseman Demi Janak, who hit 1-for-2, each stole one base as part of a double steal in the third inning. The swiped bag was the team-leading eighth of the season for Guidry.
 
HBU's senior righthander Laci Belovsky (6-5) was saddled with loss, allowing eight runs (five earned) on 11 hits in a complete-game effort. Cardinal senior righthander Lauren Dannelley (2-3) earned the win with three innings of one-run relief of starter Ciara Luna.
 
After the eight-run opening frame, Belovsky held Lamar scoreless, as the Huskies manufactured two scoring innings.
 
HBU loaded the bases to open the bottom of the fourth inning behind a leadoff walk to Belovsky and consecutive singles from Gunn and Bauer. Following a fielder's choice got Belovsky out at the plate, Gunn scored on a wild pitch in the next at bat.
 
Senior third baseman Shay Orsak singled off sophomore reliever Laura Napoli to open the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Gunn and Bauer once again delivered back-to-back singles to drive in the team's final run.
 
The Huskies will look to bounce back and continue conference play with a two-day, three-game series at Northwestern State starting Friday, March 18. Friday will see both teams meet in a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. Saturday's series finale will take place in a 1 p.m. first pitch.