Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana junior Chelsea Takacs singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to allow the Lady Lions to salvage a split in a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.

Takacs' third hit of the game completed a 3-2 extra-inning victory for Southeastern (18-26, 6-17 SLC) in the nightcap. Freshman Katelyn Thomason (6-7) was masterful in the circle for the Lady Lions. The Spring, Texas native gave up three hits and struck out seven in 10 innings of work in the win.

McNeese State (22-25, 14-9 SLC) took advantage of four Southeastern errors in a 7-4 win in the series opener. Cowgirl starter Bethany Stefinsky (13-13) struck out 14 and held Southeastern to three hits in the win. Sophomore Kelly Lyman and freshman Meghan Gomez each homered in the loss for the Lady Lions.

“The first game was an example of how our inexperience has hurt us all season,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois commented. “We played like we're capable of in the second game and we showed what a bright future we have. We had a freshman give us a tremendous effort in the circle against a tough team. The one thing I can guarantee is that this group we have is going to fight hard each and every time out.”

The rubber game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.

Game 1 – McNeese State 7, Southeastern Louisiana 3
McNeese State took the lead off Southeastern starter Catherine Gunther (8-12) in the top of the third inning thanks to three Lady Lion errors. Dani Price drew a walk to lead off the inning. Molly Guidry followed with a bunt single and Price scored when senior Heather Sherrill committed an error as her attempt to retire Guidry sailed down the right field line. After Gunther retired the next batter, Holly Long bunted towards first and sophomore Tamra Ladnier booted it to put runners at the corners.

Heather Mosser then singled to score Guidry. Gunther recovered to retire Rachel King for the second out. Liz Morvant then hit a comebacker to Gunther, but her throw sailed wide, allowing Long to score and give the Cowgirls a 3-0 lead.

Stefinsky struck out eight Lady Lions in the first three innings and held Southeastern hitless until running into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, she issued a walk to senior Allyson McCubbins – the first of three drawn by the Poquoson, Va. native on the day, allowing her to tie the single-season school record of 28 walks held by former Lady Lion catcher and current Southeastern assistant coach Karin Smith Gadberry.

Sophomore Katie Duhe followed McCubbins' walk with a flare into center for the Lady Lions' first hit of the game. On the next pitch, Gomez launched a blast over the left field fence to clear the bases. The Alvin, Texas native's team-high seventh home run of the season knotted the score at 3.

The score remained tied until the top of the sixth inning. Lindsey Langner opened the inning with a single and scored on a two-out hit by Guidry to give the Cowgirls a 4-3 lead.

McNeese State added three runs in the top of the seventh inning. A sacrifice fly by Claire Terracina and a two-run single by Price pushed the advantage to 7-3.

Southeastern attempted to mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. Lyman led off the frame with a shot over the centerfield fence – her second of the season – to cut the lead to three. Southeastern would get no closer, however, as Stefinsky sat the next three batters down in order to secure the win.

Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 3, McNeese State 2
Thomason and McNeese State starter Michelle LaVoie (7-6) were dominant through the first four innings as neither faced a significant threat.

Southeastern took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. For the second straight game, Duhe picked up the team's first hit, depositing LaVoie's offering over the left centerfield fence to put the Lady Lions up, 1-0, with her third home run of the year.

Thomason made her only mistake of the contest to allow McNeese State to take the lead in the top of the sixth inning. After Price drew a two-out walk, Guidry lined a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence to put the Cowgirls ahead, 2-1. The hit was the last Thomason would allow for the remainder of the game.

Southeastern went back to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. Takacs and freshman Jordan Logan led off the frame with consecutive singles. After retiring the next two batters, it appeared that LaVoie had got out of the jam, when Duhe hit a routine grounder to short. However, the ball rolled through Guidry's legs, allowing Takacs to score and tie the game at 2-2.

The two pitchers assumed their domination over the next several innings. In the top of the 10th, Whitney Corbello was placed on second to start the inning in accordance with the international tie breaker rule. After Long bunted Corbello over to third, Thomason forced Mosser to hit a pop foul down the third base line and Sherrill reached into the McNeese dugout to make the grab for the second out. After King drew a walk to put runners at the corners, Thomason struck out Morvant to keep the score tied.

Sophomore Bailey Zievert was placed on second to start the Lady Lion half of the 10th and was bunted over to third by junior Amber Freeman. Takacs followed with a sharp opposite-field single to right field, allowing Zievert to walk in with the game-winning run.