March 13, 2013

BEAUMONT, Texas - The Lamar University softball team plays its second midweek doubleheader in three days when it travels to Louisiana-Monroe at 4 p.m. Thursday.

Lamar (11-3) comes off a doubleheader split vs. visiting Bucknell on Tuesday, winning the nightcap 3-1 after falling 2-1 in the opener.

"One of the reasons for these midweek games is to give our reserves some playing time to keep them sharp," Lamar coach Holly Bruder said. "You never know when you're going to need them to step up in a conference game. This is their opportunity to show us that they deserve more playing time."

Look for Melissa Smith (1-4, 7.60) and Ashley Rey (0-0, 12.60) to handle some of the pitching duties as Bruder saves Shannon Millman (6-5, 3.47, 1 save) and Tina Schulz (4-4, 3.50) for the three-game Southland Conference series at Stephen F. Austin this weekend. Millman and Schulz have thrown 130 2//3 innings of the 150 innings the pitching staff has compiled.

Louisiana-Monroe (11-14) went 3-1 at the Florida Atlantic Invitational in Boca Raton, Fla., over the weekend.

Janel Salanoa leads the Warhawks with a .343 batting average. Louisiana-Monroe has been outscored 131-87 this season and out-homered 25-11.

Following Thursday's twinbill, the Lady Cardinals will practice Friday morning at ULM before heading to Stephen F. Austin. The Lady Cardinals and Lady Jacks will play a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday and a single game at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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