BEAUMONT, Tex. --- The Alabama A&M University softball team went 1-3 at the Lamar University Cardinal Classic in Beaumont, Texas, over the weekend. The Lady Bulldogs played two games Friday to open the tournament and two games on Saturday, while Sunday's game was canceled due to weather.

The lone win for the Lady Bulldogs was in its first game of the tournament on Friday, a 4-0 win over Binghamton University. Lauren Hayden threw a five-hit shutout, striking out six in earning her first collegiate victory.

Alabama A&M jumped ahead when Tamia Lee-Barbadillo sent a flyball into centerfield that was mishandled, allowing Danielle Hansell and Jamia Kirk to score. In the sixth, Alabama A&M's Alexis Bates hit a two-run single for insurance.

In game two, Alabama A&M was limited to three hits against Loyola-Chicago, committing four errors in the contest as well. After a scoreless first, LUC took control, scoring at least one run in each of the ensuing innings, with Ashley Parenti driving in two runs for the Ramblers along the way.

Jordyn Cordell and Katie Polaski each scored two runs. Tiana Sanders, Hansell and Ariel Smith each had one hit for AAMU. Rachel Sanders was charged with the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work.

On day two of the tournament, the Lady Bulldogs fell 9-1 to Loyola-Chicago in its first game before coming up just short in a 10-9 slugfest against host Lamar.

In game one, the Ramblers scored three runs in the first and two runs in the second to gain the early advantage. AAMU scored when Alexis Bates was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Tamia-Lee Barbadillo. However, that was all the Lady Bulldogs would get as Loyola scored four runs in the sixth, forcing an early end to the matter. Jessica Alferos was 2-for-3 with a double. Lauren Hayden surrendered nine runs on 11 hits in 5.1 innings, taking the loss.

Against Lamar, Alabama A&M dominated early on, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with nine unanswered runs to take a seven-run advantage into the sixth. The Cardinals managed five runs in the sixth and added two more runs – the game-tying one being a result of an Alabama A&M fielding error – to tie the game. An airmailed throw from third during the eighth inning allowed Lamar to score the game-winner.

Danielle Hansell led AAMU with three RBI on 2-for-4 batting. Ariel Smith was 3-for-5 with a run scored, and Barbadillo was 2-for-4 with a run scored.

The Lady Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday, March 6 as they travel to Murfreesboro, TN to face Middle Tennessee State University for a 4 p.m. start time.