Box Score

HAMMOND – Behind a five-run first inning, the Southeastern Louisiana softball team opened up its Southland Conference series with a 9-5 win over Stephen F. Austin Friday afternoon at North Oak Park.

The victory improved Southeastern's overall record to 18-22 and pushed the Lady Lions to 8-11 in Southland Conference play. SFA fell to 11-31 overall and 6-16 in league play with the loss. The two teams were originally slated to play a doubleheader on Friday, however unforeseen circumstances led to the postponement of Friday's nightcap. The series will conclude with a 10 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday. Live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.

Senior Katie Duhe and freshman Hali Westmoreland each drove in two runs for Southeastern to give the Lady Lions an early lead. After SFA rallied to cut the lead to one, junior Meghan Gomez ripped a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game away. Sophomore Kenna Terry (5-4) went the distance for the Lady Lions, allowing one earned run and striking out seven.

Southeastern jumped out to a big lead in the bottom of the first inning off SFA ace Monika Covington (6-16). With one out, junior Trish Bliss ripped a single to center and moved to second when junior Kelsey Nichols reached on an error. Katie Duhe put Southeastern on the board with a single up the middle to score Bliss. A pair of illegal pitches by Covington forced in two more runs, then Westmoreland cleared the bases with a two-run single to give the Lady Lions a commanding 5-0 lead.

SFA cut into the lead in the top of the third inning. Nicole Wooten reached on an error to lead off the inning and then scored on an RBI single by Elizabeth Arana. A sacrifice fly by Bethany Brown and an RBI single by Cadie Weaver accounted for two more runs, cutting the Southeastern advantage to 5-3.

In the fourth, Wooten again reached on an error and Arana followed with a single to put a pair on with two outs. Lauren Luetge then ripped a shot into the left centerfield gap. Sophomore Michelle Duhe robbed Luetge of extra bases with a diving catch to keep the Southeastern lead at two.

SFA pulled closer in its half of the fifth inning. Brown walked, stole second and scored on a Weaver single. Later in the inning, a single by Lacy Liles and a walk to Charlotte Singleton loaded the bases with two outs. However, Terry bounced back to strike out Wooten to keep the Southeastern lead at 5-4.

After the tough first inning, Covington retired 10 straight before Michelle Duhe led off the frame with a single up the middle. After moving over to third on consecutive ground outs, Michelle Duhe scored when older sister, Katie, singled up the middle, putting Southeastern up, 6-4.

SFA got the run back in the sixth, as Luetge reached on a one-out error and scored on a double by Amber Price. Terry kept the lead by retiring Brown and Weaver to end the inning.

Covington hit junior Lauren Coniglio with one out in the bottom of the sixth, then Westmoreland laid down a bunt right in front of the circle. Covington picked up the bunt, but her throw sailed high, putting runners on second and third with one out. Gomez followed with a line shot over the left field fence to give Southeastern a 9-5 lead.

Terry struck out Liles and Krista Hallmark, then forced Singleton to pop out to shallow center to close the game out in the seventh inning.