Southeastern-Grambling Box Score
Southeastern-St. Louis Box Score

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team split a pair of games on day two of the Lion Classic on Saturday at North Oak Park.

The Lady Lions (3-4) opened the day with a 6-2 win over Grambling. A two-run pinch-hit home run by freshman Kelsey Nichols keyed a four-run seventh inning to allow Southeastern to pull away. Sophomore Vicki Honeycutt (1-0) threw four scoreless innings to take the win for Southeastern, while freshman Elise Kittrell struck out three in three innings of work to earn her first career victory.

In the nightcap, Southeastern fell to St. Louis, 3-1. The Billikens scored two runs off two Lady Lion errors to take the lead for good in the third inning. St. Louis pitchers Hannah Huebbe and Kelcie Matesa combined to hold the Lady Lions to three hits.

In other action, Mississippi Valley State defeated Grambling, 8-6, and Jackson State, 3-2, in nine innings. Tennessee-Martin remained undefeated in tournament play with a 9-0 five-inning win over St. Louis and a 6-4 win over Jackson State.

Southeastern will close out the tournament on Sunday, facing UTM at 10 a.m.

Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 6, Grambling 2
Grambling pitcher Brandi Payne and Honeycutt held the respective lineups in check through the first four innings. Payne retired the first 10 batters she faced, but Southeastern broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning.

Senior Amber Freeman reached on an error with one out and then senior Chelsea Takacs doubled into the right field gap to plate Freeman. Takacs would later score on an RBI single by sophomore Jordan Logan to give Southeastern a 2-0 lead.

Kittrell took over for Honeycutt with a runner on in the fifth. A wild pitch, stolen base and single later, Grambling had runners at second and third with no outs. Kittrell kept the runners from scoring with three consecutive strikeouts.

Grambling again threatened in the sixth putting runners at the corners with no outs. Kittrell then forced Taylor Texada to pop out. Raven Turner then hit a line shot right at junior first baseman Tamra Ladnier. Ladner snagged the shot and stepped on first for an unassisted double play.

Freeman singled to open the seventh, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a one-out wild pitch. Sophomore Meghan Gomez then drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Michelle Duhe. Nichols followed with a two run shot over the left field fence to put the Lady Lions ahead, 5-0. Sophomore Casey Simpson would then take advantage of two Grambling errors to put Southeastern up, 6-0.

Grambling managed two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but Kittrell forced Mikiesha Henson to ground out to secure her first career save.

Game Two – St. Louis 3, Southeastern Louisiana 1
Southeastern took a 1-0 lead of Huebbe in the top of the first inning. Freeman and junior Katie Duhe drew consecutive one out walks. Takacs then hit a grounder to St. Louis second baseman Kerri Dockins. Dockins tried to force Duhe at second but her throw sailed into left field, allowing Freeman to score and give the Lady Lions the early advantage.

Southeastern freshman Kati Morse (0-1) struck out three in the first two innings, but St. Louis took the lead in the third. Kristin Nicoletti singled with one out and then stole second. Junior Heather Grivas' throw was errant, allowing Nicoletti to advance to third. Jessica Buschjost then grounded to sophomore Lauren Coniglio at third base. Coniglio faked a throw to first and tried to pick off Nicoletti at third. However, her throw sailed down the left field line allowing Nicoletti to score. Buschjost would then score on a single by Nicki Jost to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead.

Southeastern threatened with two outs in the fourth inning. Coniglio singled and advanced to second when Grivas walked. Huebbe recovered, forcing Michelle Duhe to ground out to end the inning.

St. Louis added a run in the fourth. Brittney Schmidt doubled home a run to put St. Louis up, 3-1 and chase Morse from the game. Junior reliever Bailey Zievert held St. Louis hitless for the rest of the game.

Logan led off the fifth with a single to chase Huebbe. Matesa retired all nine batters she faced to earn the save.