HAMMOND — The battle of the Cardinals needed an extra inning to decide a winner, but Baylee Lemons drove in the game-winning run for No. 4 UIW, lifting the group over No. 5 Lamar Tuesday at the 2024 SLC Softball Championship. 

The Cardinals will meet No. 1 McNeese Wednesday morning at North Oak Park while Lamar awaits the loser of No. 2 Southeastern and the winner of the matchup between No. 3 Nicholls and No. 7 HCU. 

SLC Newcomer of the Year Shenita Tucker reached base four times on two hits and two walks while tallying three runs. Jayne Sepulveda went two-of-five, driving in two runs and Kalie Amos ended two-of-four. 

Lemons finished the game with two hits both coming on singles. Avalon Sanchez had two hits in four plate appearances and newly crowned SLC Player of the Year Victoria Altamirano reached base twice. 

The fifth-seeded Cardinals dealt the first blow after a Sepulveda double sent Tucker storming around the bases all the way from first to home, giving her team a 1-0 lead. 

Emma Wardlaw strarted strong in the circle for Lamar, blanking the UIW offense through the first four innings, aided with a diving catch from Kalyn Xayaseng in the bottom of the fourth to close the inning. 

But Wardlaw would receive more cushion in the top of the fifth. Tucker and Sepulveda both drove in RBI doubles, lifting the Cardinals to a 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. 

However, UIW sparked a rally in the following frame. Dominique Guerra and Altamirano reached base, setting the table for a two-run RBI double off the bat of Sanchez, bringing the Cardinals within a 3-2 margin. 

Maddison Guillen slugged an RBI single moments later, bringing in Sanchez and Jillan Guiterrez to push the Cardinals in front 4-3. 

The contest took a dramatic turn after Guillen appeared to secure a game-ending double play at third, but a review determined the third baseman obstructed a UIW baserunner. Tucker proceeded score the game-tying run and an empty bottom seventh brought the game to extra innings. 

Samantha Portillo blanked Lamar in the top of the eighth. Bryanna Fuentes singled in the eighth and would reach second before the Cardinals installed Jaisy Caceres as a pinch runner. 

Lemons then delivered the game-winning blast up the middle and UIW took the victory. 

UIW and McNeese will start Wednesday's action at 11 a.m. while Lamar awaits its opponent for a 4 p.m. elimination matchup.