Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore outfielder Jordan Logan led the Lady Lion attack with a 3-for-4 performance, while sophomore pitcher Katelyn Thomason struck out seven and scattered four hits in a complete-game effort as the Lady Lions opened Southland Conference play with a 5-3 win over Nicholls Tuesday evening at North Oak Park.

Consecutive home runs by junior shortstop Katie Duhe and sophomore designated player Meghan Gomez keyed a four-run third inning that gave the Lady Lions (4-6, 1-0 Southland) the lead for good. Nicholls fell to 6-4 overall and 0-1 in league action.

“Jordan is the catalyst that makes our offense go,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “When she gets on, we know that we have Katie and Meghan in the middle of the lineup who we can count on to knock her in.

“We have to clean up some things on the infield defensively as we move forward,” Langlois added. “But, Katelyn showed a lot of toughness pitching us out of jams and we're really proud of her effort.”

Southeastern mounted the game's first major threat in the bottom of the second inning. Walks to Gomez and junior first baseman Tamra Ladnier, as well as a single by Thomason (3-2) loaded the bases with no outs. However, Nicholls pitcher Lacey Gros (3-2) retired the next three batters to keep the Lady Lions off the board.

The Colonels scratched out the first run in the top of the third inning without the benefit of a hit. Thomason hit Laine Strickland to open the inning and Strickland moved to third on consecutive ground outs. A throwing error by Katie Duhe on a grounder off the bat of Audrey Wood allowed Strickland to score and put Nicholls up, 1-0.

The lead would be short lived however, as Southeastern exploded in the bottom of the third. Logan led off the frame with a double into the right centerfield gap. Freshman outfielder Michelle Duhe then laid a perfect bunt down the third-base line. Kayla Watterson had to rush her throw to first trying to retire the speedy Duhe and the throw sailed down the right field line, allowing Logan to knot the score on the throwing error.

On the next pitch, Duhe lined a home run over the left field fence to put the Lady Lions on top, 3-1. Gomez followed and three pitches later, she hit a towering shot over the left field fence to push the advantage to 4-1.

Nicholls got a run back in the fourth, as Lauren Baitz led off the inning with a home run over the left field wall. Southeastern would put the lead back at three in the bottom of the fourth. Consecutive one-out singles by senior second baseman Amber Freeman and Logan, followed by a two-out walk drawn by Katie Duhe loaded the bases. With Gomez at the plate, Gros uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Freeman to score and extend the lead to 5-2.

After Thomason retired the first two batters in the seventh inning, Lyndsay Mesh cut the lead to two with a solo home run. Thomason shook it off, forcing Baitz to ground out to sophomore third baseman Lauren Coniglio, who made a nice snag and threw over to Ladnier to close out the game.

The two teams will close the series with a 3 p.m. doubleheader on Wednesday. Live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.