Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

HAMMOND – Behind flawless defense and strong pitching performances by sophomore Kati Morse and freshman Jessie Browne, the Southeastern Louisiana softball team swept Central Arkansas in a Southland Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.

With the two wins, Southeastern (13-15, 3-5 Southland) has surpassed its win total from a season ago and matched 2010's Southland Conference win total. Central Arkansas fell to 12-18 overall and 4-7 in league play.

In the opener, sophomore Kelsey Nichols was 3-for-3 and scored a pair of runs, while junior Katie Matthews hit a two-run home run in a 4-2 Lady Lion victory. For the second straight start, Morse (3-4), a Ponchatoula native, had a strong outing, holding UCA to six hits in a complete game victory.

In the nightcap, UCA reliever Kelsie Armstrong (8-12) hit Southeastern junior Lauren Coniglio with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning to force in the winning run in a 1-0 Lady Lion triumph. Browne (6-5) was sensational in the circle, holding the Bears to just three hits for her third complete game shutout of the year.

“Defense was the key to today's wins,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois commented. “Michelle Duhe is as good defensively as any centerfielder in our league and it seems like she makes big plays every game. Katie Duhe, Megan Moore, Kelsey Nichols, Megan McCollum and Tamra Ladnier all were big defensively for us today.

“We're also very proud of the efforts of Kati and Jessie in the circle today,” Langlois added. “It's been a while since we've had a good 1-2 punch pitching wise and hopefully those two can continue to do what we need them to do out there.”

Southeastern will look to complete its first Southland Conference series sweep since 2008 on Sunday. First pitch is at 12 p.m. and live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.

Game 1 – Southeastern Louisiana 4, Central Arkansas 2
Central Arkansas jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Candice Gauntt led off the inning with an infield single, stole second and scored on a double by Melanie Bryant.

Southeastern struck back in the bottom half of the inning. Nichols and Katie Duhe started the rally with consecutive one-out singles. After Armstrong walked Matthews to load the bases, she came back and struck out Moore. Junior Meghan Gomez then hit a grounder into the hole on the left side, that UCA third baseman Tarra Underhill made a nice grab on. However, Underhill's throw to first was high and wide, allowing both Duhe and Nichols to scored and give the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead.

UCA came right back in the top of the second, loading the bases with no outs on a walk, an infield single and a hit batter. Morse focused and forced Preslie Long to hit a comebacker to the circle and Morse threw home for the force and the inning's first out. Gantt then hit a grounder deep into the hole at short, but Katie Duhe made a nice grab and gunned out Taylor Dear at home. Morse then struck out Nicole Beals to maintain the Lady Lions' lead.

Both pitchers were in control until Southeastern added to its lead in the fifth inning. Nichols reached on a one-out single and one out later Matthews hit a towering home run just over the glove of UCA left fielder Kelvon Greer to put Southeastern on top, 4-1.

UCA got an insurance run in the sixth, as Shay Ristau ripped a double to left field and scored one out later on an RBI single by Greer. That was as close as the Bears would get, as Morse forced Dear to ground into a double play to end the sixth and sat UCA down in order in the seventh inning. With her third win of the season, Morse has already surpassed her freshman season win total.

Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 1, Central Arkansas 0
Browne and UCA starter Cami Newsome (3-5) matched zeroes threw the first three innings with neither team mounting a series threat. Browne sat down the first 10 batters she faced until Gauntt doubled with one out in the top of the fourth inning. A two-out walk to Kasey Britt put a pair of runners on, but Browne forced Ristau to pop out to end the threat.

Southeastern came back with a two-out rally in its half of the fourth. Newsome gave up consecutive singles to Moore and Gomez and then hit junior Trish Bliss to load the bases. However, the UCA starter came back to strike out Morse to keep the game scoreless.

UCA threatened again in the sixth inning, as Beals reached on a one-out single. After Browne struck out Gauntt, Bryant laced a single into left centerfield gap. However, Michelle Duhe made the defensive play of the day, throwing a perfect strike to third to nail Beals and end the inning.

Southeastern finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. A single by Katie Duhe and a Katie Matthews walk forced Newsome to give way to Armstrong, who walked Moore to load the bases. The UCA ace came back to retire Gomez and freshman Tori Sheppard to leave the bases loaded with two outs. However, Armstrong's first pitch to Coniglio hit the Lady Lion junior, forcing in the game's first run.

The lone run was all Browne would need. She sat down UCA in order in the top of the seventh to give Southeastern its fourth straight home victory.