Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana freshman Kelsey Nichols extended her hitting streak to seven games, but Southern scored five runs in the seventh to pull away for a 7-1 victory over the Lady Lions in non-conference softball action Wednesday afternoon at North Oak Park.

The Lady Lions (9-25) dropped their fourth straight contest. Southern improved to 12-26 overall with the victory.

The Lady Jaguars took a 1-0 lead off of Southeastern freshman Kati Morse (1-8) in the top of the first inning. Shawntall Steamer and Kasha Tauriac reached on consecutive one-out singles to put runners at the corners. Consecutive wild pitches by Morse allowed Steamer to come home for the first run of the contest.

In the second, Southern doubled its lead. April Augustine singled and scored on a single by Audrey Phillips to put SU ahead, 2-0.

The Lady Lions finally broke through against Southern pitcher Lanaya Jenkins (10-10) in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jenkins issued walks to junior Katie Duhe and freshman Elise Kittrell and then uncorked a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with one out. Sophomore Lauren Coniglio then hit a grounder to third, but Jasmine Tillman's throw was wide, allowing Duhe to score the Lady Lions' first run. Jenkins stranded Kittrell at third by retiring senior Amber Freeman and sophomore Jordan Logan.

In the top of the seventh, Tauriac singled home Phillips to chase Morse from the game. Lady Lion sophomore reliever Vicki Honeycutt was greeted by a two-run double by Victoria Stewart. Two more runs scored on a throwing error by Honeycutt. Jenkins sat the Lady Lions down in order in the seventh to end the game.

The Lady Lions head to Stephen F. Austin for a three-game series in Nacogdoches, Texas this weekend. The series opens on Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader and concludes with a single game on Sunday at 12 p.m. Live stats will be available at www.sfajacks.com.