MOBILE, Ala. – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team lost to Chattanooga and South Alabama on the final day of the 2011 South Alabama Mardi Gras Classic Sunday at Jaguar Field.

In the opener, Southeastern (4-7) managed just two hits in a 9-0 loss to Chattanooga. Junior Meghan Gomez and sophomore Kelsey Nichols each had two hits in the nightcap, but the Lady Lions dropped a 7-1 decision to host South Alabama.

Southeastern will return home to host Alcorn State on Saturday at 2 p.m. at North Oak Park.

Game One – Chattanooga 9, Southeastern Louisiana 0
Chattanooga jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Lyndsey Stiles singled and later scored on an error by Lady Lion junior Trish Bliss. Michelle Fuzzard singled home another run off Southeastern sophomore starter Kenna Terry (0-1).

Fuzzard led off the top of the third with a home run off Terry. A two-out single by Vivian Morimoto brought in another run, giving UTC a 4-0 advantage.

In the fourth, Terry allowed four consecutive singles to open the inning. Fuzzard's hit knocked in two runs to start the scoring in the inning, chasing Terry for Lady Lion sophomore Elise Kittrell. After walking Tiffany Baker, Kittrell recovered to retire the next three batters to keep the Chattanooga lead at 6-0.

In the fifth, Jessica Traxler led off with a walk and scored on a double by Sara Poteat to make the score, 7-0. UTC added two more runs in the top of the seventh. Stiles singled home the first run and scored on a Poteat triple to push the lead to 9-0.

Singles by Bliss and freshman Tori Sheppard were all the Lady Lions could manage against UE pitchers Fuzzard (3-1), Kandice Irwin and Caroline Curran.

UTC – 202 210 2 – 9 15 1 (7-3)
SLU – 000 000 0 – 0 2 1 (4-6)
Fuzzard, Irwin (4), Curran (6) and Morimoto. Terry, Kittrell (4) and Grivas. W – Fuzzard (3-1). L – Terry (0-1). HR – UTC: Fuzzard. 3B – UTC: Poteat. 2B – UTC: Tydinco, Flores, Poteat. T-1:50. A-159.

Game Two – South Alabama 7, Southeastern Louisiana 1
South Alabama (7-3) jumped to a 4-0 lead off Southeastern freshman pitcher Jessie Browne (2-2) in the bottom of the first inning. Brittany Fowler singled home the first two runs, while Julie Moss and Katy Neal followed with RBI hits of their own to put the Lady Lions in an early hole.

Southeastern got on the board in their half of the second inning. Sheppard reached on an error by USA pitcher Lindsey Croft (3-0). One out later, Browne doubled home Sheppard to cut the lead to 4-1.

Back-to-back doubles by Haley Hopkins and Christin Crocker opened the third for South Alabama. Crocker would come home on a Moss sacrifice fly to push the lead to 6-1. Jenny Stevens led off the Jaguar sixth inning with a solo home run to give the Lady Jaguars a six-run lead.

Southeastern managed a rally in the top of the seventh. Freshman Megan Moore led off the inning with a double, then senior Heather Grivas reached on a catcher's interference and freshman Megan McCollum walked to load the bases. However, Croft recovered to retire the next three Lady Lions and preserve the victory.

SLU – 010 000 0 – 1 8 2 (4-7)
USA – 402 001 x – 7 15 2 (7-3)
Browne, Honeycutt (2), Morse (2) and Gomez, Westomeland (6). Croft and Neal. W – Croft (3-0). L – Browne (2-2). HR – USA: Stevens. 3B – USA: Campbell. 2B – SLU: Gomez 2, Browne, Moore; USA: Hopkins, Crocker. T - 3:00. A – 322.