Coming off a down weekend in the HSSL tournament, the Lamar softball team's schedule offered no sympathy.

Bellaire and ace Kat Espinosa beckoned in a key District 20-5A game Friday night at Butler Softball Field, so the Redskins focused on two things: teamwork and timing against Espinosa's speed.

The time in the batting cage worked, especially for Lamar's own ace.

Kelsey Goodwin struck out 12 and got the Redskins' only hit of the game, a double leading to the game's only run as Lamar edged Bellaire 1-0.

Neither team had a hit until the third inning and there were only three combined baserunners until the fifth, when Goodwin touched up her old friend and former summer teammate with a double to the base of the left-field wall.

She was replaced by courtesy runner Sarah Termeulen, who scored when Sandra Gallegos' grounder to third was missed on the throw to first base.

"We were just basically trying to hit the speed because we know (Espinosa) throws outside. The ball I hit was inside," Goodwin said. "I just got up there set up for the inside but I was ready for the outside."

Gallegos' ground ball was handled cleanly by Kristin Lusby, but the first baseman missed the relay. Termeulen easily scored and Gallegos got to second.

"I was looking for a line drive and I hit (the ball) right on top," Gallegos said. "It was great. I was blushing. But we brought (Termeulen) in. ...

"This is the most important game of the year for us."

Lamar, only 5-10 overall, improved to 3-0 in the district and dropped Bellaire to 14-6 overall, 2-1 in the district.

The Redskins didn't touch Espinosa otherwise. She was masterful for the most part, striking out 16 and allowing only a walk to start the game. Espinosa, an Oklahoma State commit, had eight straight strikeouts in one stretch in the middle innings.

But the error turned out to be the difference. Bellaire managed only two singles off Goodwin, a South Carolina signee who hit her spots better as the game progressed.

"(Goodwin) has a lot of pitches and as long as she's moving the ball around and working it and hitting her spots, she's gonna be unstoppable," Lamar coach Brenna Guthrie said.

The win was especially refreshing for Lamar after last weekend, when it struggled against top-notch competition in Missouri City.

"We've had some struggles but they all worked together tonight and played as a team," Guthrie said. "We didn't do very well last weekend so this was a big game. I really wanted to see them work together the whole seven innings. I just wanted to see them put a run on the board and win the game."

The Cardinals threatened only twice. They stranded two runners in the third, tried to threaten again in the sixth.

Audra Wood beat out a grounder to third base to lead off the inning, but was doubled off first when Gabby Smith lined out to third.

Brooke Forgetta had Bellaire's other hit.

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