# Lamar Lady Cardinals softball

The Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I college softball. The team competes in the Southland Conference. The Lady Cardinals are currently led by head coach Amy Hooks. The team played its home games at the off–campus Ford Park for the first two seasons following the program restart in 2013. The Lady Cardinals began playing home games at the Lamar Softball Complex located on the university's campus starting with the 2015 season.

## History
### AIAW era

LU first sponsored softball from 1971 through 1977 competing in the AIAW. Lamar finished second in the 1972 AIAW Texas state tournament. In addition to other head coaching duties, Pat Park was the Lady Cardinals head coach for the initial seasons. Coach Park also served as women's head coach for basketball, tennis, and golf while she was at Lamar.
The off-campus Beaumont Athletic Complex served as the Lady Cardinals home during the 1971 to 1977 period.

### NCAA Division I era

In 1983 Lamar added softball as an NCAA Division I sport and competed in the Southland conference. Tryouts for the team were held on October 16, 1982. The sport was dropped in 1987 when Lamar left the Southland Conference. Patty Calvert was head coach during the 1982–1987 period.
On April 22, 2011, Athletic Director Larry Tidwell announced plans to reinstate college softball as an NCAA Division I sport at Lamar University. On August 1, 2011 former Morehead State head coach Holly Bruder was announced as the finalist to fill the head coaching position at Lamar after over 20 years with no program at the university. The Lady Cardinals finished fifth in the Southland Conference in their first season of competition (2012–13) following the restart of the program. The team also earned a berth in the Southland Conference softball tournament. Holly Bruder was removed as head coach on May 11, 2018. On June 20, 2018, Amy Hooks was named as head coach for the team.
Off–campus Ford Park was the home field for the first two seasons after the program was restarted. A new on–campus stadium was constructed in 2014–15. On October 17, 2014, a ground breaking ceremony for the new Lamar Softball Complex was held. The first game at the partially completed on–campus stadium was played on March 6, 2015 against the Houston Baptist Huskies. The stadium was completed following the 2015 season.

### NCAA Year–by–year results

Source:
| Season | Conference | Coach | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Conference | Conference | Conference | Conference | Notes |
| Season | Conference | Coach | Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Games | Win | Loss | Tie | Notes |
| NCAA Year–by–Year Results ||||||||||||
| 1983 | Southland | Patty Calvert | 45 | 5 | 40 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5th (3rd South Zone) |
| 1984 | Southland | Patty Calvert | 56 | 13 | 43 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5th (3rd South Zone) |
| 1985 | Southland | Patty Calvert | 42 | 14 | 28 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5th |
| 1986 | Southland | Patty Calvert | 33 | 14 | 19 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3rd |
| 1987 | Southland | Patty Calvert | 35 | 9 | 26 | 0 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 0 | T–3rd |
| | | Patty Calvert | 211 | 55 | 156 | 0 | 52 | 19 | 33 | 0 | |
| 2013 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 59 | 24 | 35 | 0 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 5th |
| 2014 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 50 | 20 | 30 | 0 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 8th |
| 2015 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 54 | 26 | 28 | 0 | 23 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 5th |
| 2016 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 57 | 35 | 22 | 0 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 0 | 4th, SLC tournament championship game appearance |
| 2017 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 65 | 34 | 31 | 0 | 27 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 4th, SLC tournament appearance, finalist – NISC |
| 2018 | Southland | Holly Bruder | 56 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 27 | 11 | 16 | 0 | 9th |
| | | Holly Bruder | 341 | 167 | 174 | 0 | 158 | 86 | 72 | 0 |
| 2019 | Southland | Amy Hooks | 57 | 23 | 34 | 0 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 7th |
| 2020 | Southland | Amy Hooks | 21 | 9 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | Season cut short by COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | Southland | Amy Hooks | 51 | 8 | 43 | 0 | 27 | 4 | 23 | 0 | |
| 2022 | WAC | Amy Hooks | 49 | 11 | 38 | 0 | 24 | 5 | 19 | 0 | |
| 2023 | Southland | Amy Hooks | 56 | 22 | 34 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 4th, 2023 SLC tournament appearance (2–2) |
| 2024 | Southland | Amy Hooks | 51 | 26 | 25 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 5th, 2024 SLC tournament appearance (0–2) |
| 2025 | Southland | Amy Hooks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| | | Amy Hooks | 285 | 99 | 186 | 0 | 129 | 47 | 82 | 0 |
| Team Overall | | | 816 | 312 | 514 | 0 | 312 | 152 | 194 | 0 | |
(Results reflect games through May 8, 2024.)

### Yearly attendance

Below is the Lady Cardinals' home attendance since the 2012–13 restart of the program.
| Season | Average | High |
| Yearly Home Attendance |||
| Lamar Softball Complex |||
| 2024 | 418 | 750 |
| 2023 | 425 | 542 |
| 2022 | 249 | 550 |
| 2021- | 108* | 119* |
| 2020 | 280** | 386** |
| 2019 | 215 | 467 |
| 2018 | 371 | 505 |
| 2017 | 316 | 466 |
| 2016 | 375 | 588 |
| 2015 | 292*** | 440*** |
| Ford Park |||
| 2014 | 290 | 359 |
| 2013 | 338 | 618 |
*Note: Attendance restricted to 119 fans due to COVID19 precautions. **Note: Games after March 10, 2020 cancelled due to COVID19 precautions. *** Note: Temporary seating. As of the 2023-24 season.

## Post season appearances
### National Invitational Softball Championship

The Lady Cardinals have participated in one national tournament, the inaugural National Invitational Softball Championship which started in 2017. The team compiled a 6–3 record in that tournament losing to Liberty in the championship game.
| Year | Record | Pct | Notes |
| 2017 | 6–3 | .667 | Beaumont, TX Regional; Beat Louisiana–Monroe (7–5), Beat Abilene Christian (6–1), Lost to Louisiana–Monroe (1–2), Beat Louisiana–Monroe (3–2) Lynchburg, VA Championship; Beat Cal Poly (8–6), Beat Illinois State (2–1), Beat Kennesaw State (5–4), Lost to Liberty (5–8), Lost to Liberty (1–3) in the championship game. |
| TOTALS | 6–3 | .667 | 1 National Invitational Softball Championship appearance |

### Conference Tournaments

Sources:
| Year | Conference | Record | % | Notes |
| Southland Conference Tournament Results |||||
| 1983 | Southland | 2-2 | .500 | Consolation bracket finals |
| 1984 | Southland | 0-2 | .000 | Consolation bracket 1st round |
| 1985 | Southland | 1–2 | .333 | Consolation bracket 2nd round |
| 1986 | Southland | 1-2 | .333 | Consolation bracket 2nd round |
| 1987 | Southland | 0–2 | .000 | Consolation bracket 2nd round |
| did not field team from 1987-88 to 2011-12 |||||
| 2013 | Southland | 0-2 | .000 | |
| 2015 | Southland | 2-2 | .500 | 3rd place |
| 2016 | Southland | 3-2 | .600 | Runner up |
| 2017 | Southland | 1-2 | .333 | 2nd round |
| 2019 | Southland | 0-1 | .000 | Single elimination opening round |
| 2023 | Southland | 2-2 | .500 | 3rd place |
| 2024 | Southland | 0-2 | .000 | |
| Total | | 13–23 | .361 | 12 Appearances |

## Awards and honors

Sources:

### Southland Conference
#### All Conference First Team

* Donna Dugas 1985, 87
* Teresa Fuxa 1986
* Tina Schulz 2014
* Bryn Baca 2016, '17
* Brittany Rodriguez 2016, '17
* Kendall Talley 2018
* Jade Lewis 2019

#### Hitter of the Year

* Donna Dugas 1986

#### Newcomer of the Year

* Laura Hall 1985
* Ciara Luna 2016
* Jade Lewis 2019
* Shenita Tucker 2024

## Seasons
### 2025 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team

The 2025 Lamar Lady Cardinals softball team will represent Lamar University during the 2025 NCAA Division I softball season. The Lady Cardinals will play their home games at Lamar Softball Complex as a member of the Southland Conference led by head coach Amy Hooks in her seventh-year at Lamar.

#### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 30, 2025. Lamar was picked to finish fifth in the Southland Conference with 95 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Southeastern Louisiana | 152 (9) |
| 2 | McNeese | 151 (9) |
| 3 | Incarnate Word | 130 (2) |
| 4 | Nicholls | 106 |
| 5 | Lamar | 95 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 70 |
| 7 | Houston Christian | 68 |
| 8 | Stephen F. Austin | 62 |
| 9 | Northwestern State | 48 |
| 9 | East Texas A&M | 20 |

#### Preseason All-Southland team

Aubrey Brown and Emma Wardlaw were named to the conference preseason first team. Jane Sepulveda and Makenzie Wright were named as conference preseason second team members.

##### First Team

* Monee Montilla (TAMUCC, SR, 1st Base)
* Ryleigh Mata* (UIW, SR, 2nd Base)
* Chloe Magee (SELU, SO, Shortstop)
* Rylie Bouvier* (MCNS, SR, 3rd Base)
* Riley Rutherford (NICH, SR, Catcher)
* Victoria Altamirano* (UIW, JR, Utility)
* Aubrey Brown (LU, SO, Designated Player)
* Reagan Heflin* (NICH, JR, Outfielder)
* Alexis Dibbley* (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
* Jillian Gutierrez* (UIW, JR, Outfielder)
* Ryann Schexnayder (MCNS, JR, Pitcher)
* Emma Wardlaw (LU, SO, Pitcher)
*-2024 Southland All-Conference Selection

##### Second Team

* Maddie Watson (SELU, SR, 1st Base)
* Jayne Sepulveda (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Baylee Lemons* (UIW, SR, Shortstop)
* Maria Detillier (SELU, JR, 3rd Base)
* Makenzie Wright (LU, SO, Catcher)
* Haylie Savage* (HCU, SR, Utility)
* Karlie Barba (HCU, JR, Designated Player)
* Samantha Mundine (MCNS, SO, Outfielder)
* AB Garcia (HCU, JR, Outfielder)
* Shenita Tucker (SELU, SR, Outfielder)
* Averi Paden (NICH, JR, Pitcher)
* Molly Yoo (NICH, JR, Pitcher)
*-2024 Southland All-Conference Selection

#### Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Lamar win |
| | Lamar loss |
| | Postponement/cancellation |
| Bold | Lamar team member |
| * | Non-conference game |
| † | Make-up game |
2025 Lamar Lady Cardinals Softball game log (15–13) :
Regular season (15–13) :
February (10–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| UH/LU tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 7 | vs. Louisiana–Monroe* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–0 | Reagan Smith (1-0) | Victoria Abrams (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 1–0 |
| Feb. 7 | vs. Louisiana–Monroe* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–2 | Mallory Pitry (1-0) | Mimi Blackledge (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 345 | 2–0 |
| Feb. 8 | vs. St. Johns* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–3$^8$ | Reagan Smith (2-0) | Loreley Francia (1-2) | None | | 506 | 3–0 |
| Feb. 8 | vs. #1 Texas* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 7–13 | Gutierrez, Citlaly Gutierrez (1-0) | Madison Guidry (0-1) | None | | 1,273 | 3–1 |
| I-10 Border Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 13 | vs. Nicholls* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 12–1 5 inn | Jolin, Sabrina (1-0) | Paden, Averi (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 367 | 4–1 |
| Feb. 14 | vs. Missouri State* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–2 | Wardlaw, Emma (2-0) | Mackenzie Chacon (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 561 | 5–1 |
| Feb. 15 | vs. Tulsa* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 2–6 | MOORE, Maura (4-1) | Wardlaw, Emma (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 598 | 5–2 |
| Feb. 15 | vs. #6 Tennessee* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 0–13$^5$ | Peyton Tanner (2-0) | Jolin, Sabrina (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 874 | 5–3 |
| Feb. 16 | vs. Missouri State* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 3–2 | Guidry, Madison (1-1) | Makenzi Swick (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 506 | 6–3 |
| Feb. 19 | at Houston* | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | | | | Postponed to March 18 due to forecast inclement weather. | | | |
| Frost Classic ||||||||||||
| Feb. 21 | vs. Indiana State* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | | | | Cancelled due to frigid temperatures. | | | |
| Feb. 21 | vs. Southeast Missouri State* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | | | | Cancelled due to frigid temperatures. | | | |
| Feb. 22 | vs. Chattanooga* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | 4–5 | Peja Goold (2-3) | Smith, Reagan (2-1) | None | | 146 | 6–4 |
| Feb. 22 | vs. UIndy* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | 2–3 | Dickerson, Callie (1-0) | Guidry, Madison (1-2) | None | | 100 | 6–5 |
| Feb. 23 | vs. Indiana State* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | 7–5 | Guidry, Madison (2-2) | Griffin, Hailey (0-2) | Pitre, Mallory (1) | | 55 | 7–5 |
| Feb. 23 | vs. Illinois State* | Frost Stadium • Chattanooga, TN | 1–6 | Meshnick, Hannah (3-3) | Smith, Reagan (2-2) | None | | 100 | 7–6 |
| Feb. 25 | at Sam Houston* | Bearkat Softball Complex • Huntsville, TX | 4–3 | Guidry, Madison (4-3) | Abigail Young (3-2) | None | ESPN+ | 416 | 8–6 |
| Black and Gold Challenge ||||||||||||
| Feb. 28 | vs. Jacksonville State* | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 1–3 | Jordan Eslinger (2-2) | Jolin, Sabrina (1-2) | Kat Carter (1) | | 500 | 8–7 |
| Feb. 28 | vs. Louisiana Tech* | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 5–3 | Guidry, Madison (4-2) | Floyd, Allie (6-4) | None | | 788 | 9–7 |
March (5–6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Black and Gold Challenge (continued) ||||||||||||
| Mar 1 | vs. Jacksonville State* | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 1–13$^5$ | MacKinley Portillo (3-1) | Smith, Reagan (2-3) | None | | 500 | 9–8 | |
| Mar 1 | at Southern Miss* | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 4–5 | Kayla Giardina (2-2) | Guidry, Madison (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 831 | 9–9 | |
| Mar 2 | vs. Louisiana Tech* | Southern Miss Softball Complex • Hattiesburg, MS | 5–4 | Guidry, Madison (5-3) | Buster, Mattison (1-2) | None | | 738 | 10–9 | |
| Mar 4 | Texas Southern* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 11–0$^5$ | Pitre, Mallory (2-0) | Marisa Perla (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 111 | 11–9 | |
| Battle of the Border (Rivalry) ||||||||||||
| Mar 7 | vs. McNeese | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 5–6 | Schexnayder, Ryann (3-1) | Guidry, Madison (5-4) | Williams, Kadence (2) | ESPN+ | 400 | 11–10 | 0–1 |
| Mar 7 | vs. McNeese | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 7–0 | Wardlaw, Emma (2-1) | Dibbley, Alexis (2-2) | Pitre, Mallory (2) | | 690 | 12–10 | 1–1 |
| Mar 8 | vs. McNeese | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 4–0 | Smith, Reagan (3-3) | Williams, Kadence (1-4) | None | ESPN+ | 671 | 13–10 | 2–1 |
| Mar 12 | Baylor* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | 8–6 | Smith, Reagan (4-3) | Lexie Warncke (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 975 | 14–10 | |
| Mar 14 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | 4–1 | Smith, Reagan (5-3) | A. Telford (3-1) | None | | 77 | 15–10 | 3–1 |
| Mar 15 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | 4–5 | B. Gainous (2-5) | Wardlaw, Emma (2-2) | None | | 103 | 15–11 | 3–2 |
| Mar 15 | at Stephen F. Austin | SFA Softball Field • Nacogdoches, TX | 4–8 | Telford, Alexis (4-1) | M. Guidry (5-5) | None | | 168 | 15–12 | 3–3 |
| Mar 18 | at Houston* | Cougar Softball Stadium • Houston, TX | 6–10 | Michalak, Rylee (4-1) | Jolin, Sabrina (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 295 | 15–13 | |
| Mar 21 | vs. East Texas A&M | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | | – | – |
| Mar 21 | vs. East Texas A&M | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | | – | – |
| Mar 22 | vs. East Texas A&M | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | | – | – |
| Mar 28 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | | | – | – |
| Mar 28 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | | | – | – |
| Mar 29 | at Nicholls | Swanner Field at Geo Surfaces Park • Thibodaux, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | | | – | – |
April (0–0) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr 1 | vs. Houston | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | |
| Apr 4 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 4 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 5 | at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | Chapman Field • Corpus Christi, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 8 | vs. Southeastern Louisiana | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 8 | vs. Southeastern Louisiana | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 9 | vs. Southeastern Louisiana | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 11 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Apr 11 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Apr 12 | at Northwestern State | Lady Demon Diamond • Natchitoches, LA | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Apr 15 | vs. Tarleton State* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | |
| Apr 15 | vs. Tarleton State* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | |
| Apr 17 | vs. Houston Christian | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 17 | vs. Houston Christian | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 18 | vs. Houston Christian | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | – |
| Apr 22 | vs. Sam Houston* | Lamar Softball Complex • Beaumont, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | | – | |
| Apr 26 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Apr 26 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Apr 27 | at Incarnate Word | H-E-B Field • San Antonio, TX | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | – | – |
Post-season (0–0) :
Southland Tournament (0–0) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 1–4 | vs. TBD | | at No. 1 and 2 Highest seed • TBD | – | (-) | (-) | | ESPN+ | | – | – |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

##### Weekly awards

Weekly honors :
| Honors | Player | Position | Date Awarded | Ref. |
| SLC Hitter of the Week | Veronica Harrison | INF | February 10, 2025 | |
| SLC Pitcher of the Week | Madison Guidry | LHP | March 3, 2025 | |