Box Score

HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana sophomore Jordan Logan and junior Katie Duhe had two hits apiece, but the Lady Lions fell to Sam Houston State, 7-0, in Southland Conference softball action Sunday afternoon at North Oak Park.

The Lady Lions dropped to 10-31 overall and 2-20 in league action with the loss. Sam Houston State (18-25, 10-13 SLC) got another strong pitching performance from Morgan Mikulin and collected 10 hits to complete the sweep.

Southeastern freshman Elise Kittrell (1-2) sat the Bearkats down in order in the first inning, but got into trouble in the second inning. Mikulin led off the inning with a double to start the big SHSU inning. Tomi Garrison then laid a sacrifice bunt that junior Tamra Ladnier had trouble fielding. Ladnier's throw to first was low and got away from Duhe, allowing Mikulin to score the game's first run.

Shelbi Tucker followed one out later with a single that scored Garrison. A two-out throwing error by sophomore Vicki Honeycutt allowed the inning to continue. SHSU took advantage, as Amy Brown ripped a two-run single to center, chasing Kittrell from the game and giving the Bearkats a 4-0 lead.

Southeastern mounted a threat in its half of the second, as singles by Duhe and senior Chelsea Takacs gave the Lady Lions a pair of runners with one out. Mikulin bore down, however, and retired Honeycutt and senior Amber Freeman to keep the Lady Lions off the board.

Mikulin padded the lead in the top of the third, hitting the first pitch by junior Bailey Zievert over the left field fence. Zievert, who finished with four strikeouts in 5.1 innings, struck out three straight from there to minimize the damage.

The Bearkats added to their lead in the fifth inning. Singles by Calli Wood, Mandy Gegen and Tiffani Woodrum loaded the bases with two outs. Zievert then hit Hailey Wiginton to force in another run and put SHSU on top, 6-0.

Southeastern mounted another threat in the bottom of the sixth inning. Logan and freshman Kelsey Nichols led off the inning with consecutive singles. Mikulin battled back, forcing sophomore Meghan Gomez to ground into a double play. Sophomore Katelyn Thomason then hit a rocket that tipped off the glove of Tucker at third and bounced right to Wiginton, who fired over to first for the inning's final out.

Sam Houston State closed out the scoring in the top of the seventh, as Zievert issued a bases loaded walk to Erin Burford to force in another run. A leadoff single by Duhe was all Southeastern could manage in the seventh versus Mikulin, who pitched all 19 innings of the series for the Bearkats and earned three complete game victories.

Southeastern will return home on Wednesday, closing out its non-conference schedule with a 6 p.m. contest versus Southern Miss at North Oak Park.