Box Score

MOBILE, Ala. – A two-run double by junior Meghan Gomez broke a 5-5 tie and capped a four-run sixth inning for Southeastern Louisiana, as the Lady Lion softball team took a 7-5 win over Tennessee-Martin in the opener of the 2011 South Alabama Mardi Gras Classic Friday morning at Jaguar Field.

The Lady Lions (4-3) rallied from two runs down to defeat defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Tennessee-Martin (2-3) for the second time this season. Senior Bailey Zievert (2-0) pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief for the win, keeping her earned run average at 0.00.

“We continued to be pleased with our aggression and production at the plate,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “We're getting a little something from everybody and that's encouraging. We're proud of the fact that every time they scored, we were able to answer right back. Once we got the lead in the sixth, Bailey did what she needed to do to shut the door. This was a great way to open the weekend.”

Tennessee-Martin jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Skyhawks' leadoff batter Leah Taylor sent Southeastern sophomore starter Kenna Terry's offering over the centerfield fence to put UTM on top.

Southeastern came back with two runs in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. UTM starter Morgan Lewis walked Southeastern freshman Megan McCollum, then hit freshman Jessie Browne, freshman Aly Williams and junior Trish Bliss to force in a run. The go-ahead run would come on a fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore Michelle Duhe.

UTM retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jordan Garrett led off the frame with a single and Jenny Bain immediately followed with a two-run shot over the left field fence to give the Skyhawks a 3-2 cushion.

The Lady Lions tied the score in their half of the fourth. Williams ripped a one-out double and then took advantage of two UTM errors to score the tying run.

UTM swung the advantage back in its favor in the bottom of the fifth inning. RBI singles by Chelsea Cary and Alexa Alfaro put the Skyhawks ahead, 5-3.

Skyhawk reliever Kate Vanderham (0-2) hit Williams to open the sixth, then allowed singles to Bliss and Michelle Duhe to load the bases. Sophomore Kelsey Nichols followed with a grounder to Bain at short, who threw wide, allowing Williams and Bliss to come home with the tying runs.

From there, it was time for two-time All-Southland Conference performer Gomez to shine. The Alvin, Texas native's team-high fourth double of the season plated Michelle Duhe and Nichols, giving Southeastern a 7-5 lead.

Zievert made it stand up in the final two innings. Two walks were all UTM could manage in their last two trips to the plate. In her two relief wins this season, the Vinton native has allowed just two hits in five innings of work.

Southeastern will be back in action on Saturday for a pair of games. The Lady Lions will face Evansville at 9 a.m. and Ohio State at 1:30 p.m. Live stats from Saturday's games will be available at www.usajaguars.com.

SLU – 020 104 0 – 7 9 1 (4-3)
UTM – 102 020 0 – 5 9 4 (2-3)
Terry, Zievert (5) and Gomez. Lewis, Vanderham (6), Jones (6) and Lindow. HR – UTM: Taylor, Bain. 2B – SLU: Gomez, Williams. T-2:00. A-n/a.