Box Score

JACKSON, Miss. – Southeastern Louisiana freshman Elise Kittrell pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn her first collegiate victory and the Lady Lions rallied from three runs down for a 4-3 win over Jackson State in non-conference softball action Tuesday afternoon at the JSU Softball Field.

Lady Lion junior Katie Duhe scored the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth inning by virtue of heads up base running to help Southeastern improve to 7-21 overall. Jackson State committed five errors and fell to 9-23 on the year. The two teams were scheduled to play a doubleheader, but JSU changed it to a single game early Tuesday.

Sophomores Jordan Logan and Katelyn Thomason had two hits apiece to fuel the Southeastern attack, as the Lady Lions finished with six hits off JSU starter Jessica Villegas (2-6). Meanwhile, Kittrell (1-1) relieved Southeastern freshman starter Kati Morse and struck out six batters and allowed four hits to help the Lady Lions climb out of an early hole.

“We made some mistakes today, but we were able to overcome them and come out with a victory,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois commented. “Hopefully we're starting to build some momentum heading into the second half of our season.”

JSU took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and a runner on, Tynette Sims hit a high pop up that sophomore Lauren Coniglio misplayed. JSU followed with three consecutive singles to score three unearned runs and chase Morse from the game. Kittrell retired Villegas to keep the score at 3-0.

Southeastern answered in its next at-bat. Freshman Kelsey Nichols singled with one out and advanced to second when sophomore Meghan Gomez reached on a fielder's choice. Thomason followed with her team-high fifth double of the season to score Nichols. Duhe then hit a grounder to Amanda Boggan at shortstop and Boggan bobbled it slightly. Rushing her throw to attempt to retire the speedy Duhe, Boggan overshot first baseman Anesha McLendon, allowing Gomez and Thomason to come home and knot the score at 3.

The Lady Lions took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Duhe sat on first base after reaching on a fielder's choice. Villegas then uncorked a wild pitch that catcher Delyse Montgomery was slow to recover and Duhe rounded second and advanced to third. Montgomery tried to gun Duhe down at third, but her throw got away from Farren Wright just enough for Duhe to race home for the go-ahead run.

Jackson State mounted its first real threat versus Kittrell in the bottom of the sixth inning. Singles by Alla Williams and Qumi Kimble put runners at first and second with one out. The Boca Raton, Fla. native recovered to retire Boggan and Kenesha Phillips to keep Southeastern on top.

In the seventh, Villegas drew a one out walk to put the tying run on for JSU. However, Kittrell struck out Brittanie Talley for the second out. Wright then hit a routine grounder to senior Amber Freeman at short, who flipped it to Duhe at second for the third out and the second straight victory for Southeastern.

The Lady Lions will be back in action on Thursday, heading to Alcorn State for a 2 p.m. doubleheader in Lorman, Miss.