Box Score

NATCHITOCHES – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team set a new school record for home runs in a inning with three long balls in a five-run third inning en route to an 8-0 mercy rule victory over Northwestern State in the rubber game of a Southland Conference series Sunday afternoon at the NSU Softball Complex.

The Lady Lions (13-19, 3-12 SLC) earned its first league series victory of the season. Northwestern State fell to 4-27 overall and 2-15 in SLC action.

Southeastern, which hit five home runs in Saturday's 15-2 victory in the season opener to break an 18-game homerless streak, powered four home runs on Sunday to give them nine for the series and 20 for the season. Freshman Meghan Gomez, senior Heather Sherrill, senior Allyson McCubbins and junior Chelsea Takacs all homered on Sunday. Gomez, sophomore Katie Duhe and sophomore Tamra Ladnier had two hits each for the Lady Lions, while McCubbins drove in a team-high three runs.

For the second straight day, Southeastern junior Catherine Gunther (6-8) handled Northwestern State in the circle, scattering five hits in the complete game victory. The shutout for Gunther, who has won her last three starts, was her third of the season.

“We were really pleased with today's effort,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois commented. “Meghan and Chelsea were hot all weekend and continue to improve in their first seasons with our program. Catherine did what we needed her to do in the circle and is starting to develop into the type of ace our staff needs. We're still a work in progress, but the continued improvement of our newcomers, along with our established players such as Allyson, Heather and Katie starting to perform at the level we expect them to, is an encouraging sign.”

Southeastern jumped out to the lead in the top of the second inning. Gomez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second when Duhe followed with a walk. McCubbins then cleared the bases with a three-run home run off NSU pitcher Kelee Grimes (3-16). McCubbins' fourth round tripper of the season gave the Lady Lions a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Lions put the game away in the top of the third. Ladnier led off the inning with a single and Sherrill followed with her second home run of the season, as the school's career leader for doubles, extra base hits and total bases, moved closer to the school's career standards for RBI and hits with a blast over the right field fence.

Gomez followed Sherrill and gave the Lady Lions back-to-back home runs for the first time this season with a solo shot over the left field fence. The homer was the third of the series and the team-high sixth of the season for the Alvin, Texas native.

Duhe followed with a single and stole second before Grimes retired McCubbins. With one out, Takacs lauched a mammoth shot over the left field fence. The Gulf Breeze, Fla. product's fourth home run of the season gave the Lady Lions a school-record three in the inning and an 8-0 cushion. Prior to Sunday, Southeastern had hit two home runs in an inning on 11 different occasions in the program's history, including twice yesterday.

Northwestern State tried to extend the game with its only threat of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ainsley Pellerin laced a two-out double, but Gunther ended the game and preserved the shutout by forcing Stormi Stech to ground out.

The Lady Lions return home on Wednesday to host Louisiana-Monroe at 5 p.m. at North Oak Park.