Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team rallied from a disappointing game one effort to earn a doubleheader split with Stephen F. Austin in Southland Conference action Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.

The Lady Lions (19-23, 9-12 Southland) have now nearly doubled their overall win total from a season ago and have tripled last season's Southland Conference win total. Stephen F. Austin is now 12-32 overall and 7-17 in league action after dropping two of three in the series.

Southeastern, which won Friday's series opener, 9-5, avoided a doubleheader sweep and clinched the series with a 5-2 win in the series finale. The Lady Lions broke a 2-2 tie with a three-run sixth inning. Freshman Megan McCollum singled and scored the eventual winning run, while juniors Katie Matthews and Meghan Gomez each drove in runs.

The Southeastern offense backed up a strong effort by sophomore Kenna Terry (6-4). Terry won her fourth straight home start, allowing two runs in a complete-game effort. All six of Terry's wins have come in league play, as the Baytown, Texas native has a 6-3 record with a 2.64 ERA versus league opposition.

“Kenna was definitely on today,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said of the Lady Lion right hander in her first season with Southeastern out of Grayson Community College. “She was really hitting her spots and she's developing into a pitcher that we count on to give us a chance to win every time she's out there. She's been a pleasant surprise this season and we're fortunate to have her for the next three years.”

Langlois was quick to praise several of his young hitters.

“We had some freshmen and sophomores step up at the plate this weekend,” Langlois commented. “We're really proud of the big hits by Megan, Hali Westmoreland and Michelle Duhe. Gomez came up big for us this weekend too and hopefully we've got her bat going again.”

In the opener, SFA starter Carlie Thomas (7-10) held Southeastern to three hits in the 7-0 victory. SFA broke open a 2-0 game with a five-run fourth inning.

With three league series remaining, Southeastern is a game and half out of sixth place. The top six will advance to the Southland Conference Tournament, scheduled for May 12-14 in Hunstville, Texas.

Southeastern will play its next six leagues away from home over the next week. The Lady Lions open their final road swing with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Nicholls on Tuesday. Langlois knows if his team, which has won its past three Southland home series, wants to advance to the postseason, it will have to win a league road series for the first time in 2011.

“We got our first road win last weekend (at Northwestern State), now it's time for us to win a road series,” Langlois said. “We get our first chance to do that at Nicholls.”

Game One – Stephen F. Austin 7, Southeastern Louisiana 0
SFA jumped out to an advantage in the top of the first off Lady Lion sophomore Kati Morse (4-7). Elizabeth Arana singled to lead off the game and later scored on a RBI single by Bethany Brown. Lauren Luetge, who had drawn a walk earlier in the inning, scored on an RBI double by Cadie Weaver to put SFA up, 2-0.

Southeastern had one of its few serious scoring threats in the bottom of the third inning. McCollum led off the inning with a single and moved to second after sophomore Kelsey Nichols drew a one-out walk. Thomas got out of the jam by striking out senior Katie Duhe and forcing Matthews to pop out.

SFA broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning. Weaver led off the inning with a solo home run over the left field fence. One out later, Charlotte Singleton doubled down the left field line and scored on an RBI single by Krista Hallmark. Morse then walked Nicole Wooten before giving way to senior Bailey Zievert.

Zievert walked the first two batters she faced to force in another run. Additonal runs came in on fielder's choice and a throwing error by McCollum to put the SFA lead at 7-0.

Southeastern mounted one last scoring threat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Singles by Gomez and senior Tamra Ladnier, as well as a McCollum walk loaded the bases. However, Thomas preserved the shutout by forcing Michelle Duhe to line out to deep center.

Game Two – Southeastern Louisiana 5, Stephen F. Austin 2
The Lady Lions took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first off Luetge (0-2). Michelle Duhe led off the game with an 11-pitch at-bat, eventually singling up the middle. Nichols then laid a perfect bunt in front of the plate and beat Singleton's throw to first. Duhe then stole third and Singleton's throw skipped under the glove of Weaver at third, allowing the speedy Lutcher native to race home for the first run of the game.

The Lady Lions doubled their lead in the bottom of the second inning. Ladnier led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Lauren Coniglio. Westmoreland then lifted her first career double over the head of Wooten in left, allowing Ladnier to easily walk in for a 2-0 lead.

SFA cut into the lead in the top of the third inning. Singleton led off the frame with a single and scored on a one-out double to the left centerfield gap by Elizabeth Arana to move within 2-1.

SFA knotted the score in the fifth inning. Wooten led off the inning with a single and scored on a one-out single by Amber Price. A two-out walk to Weaver loaded the bases, but Terry bounced back to force Haleigh Willis to fly out to keep the score tied.

McCollum opened Southeastern's key inning with a single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth inning. Michelle Duhe followed with a single of her own to put a pair of runners on, chasing Luetge from the game. Thomas retired Nichols and then walked Katie Duhe to load the bases with one out.

Matthews then hit a shallow fly ball to centerfield. McCollum moved halfway between third and home to draw a throw and came home when Singleton could not cleanly field the throw in from Price. Gomez then singled home another run. Katie Duhe would score the game's final run, as Ladnier reached on a fielding error by Thomas.

Terry headed into the top of the seventh inning with a three-run lead, but allowed singles to Elizabeth Arana and Luetge to lead off the inning. Terry bounced back to retire Price and Brown, but walked Weaver to load the bases with two outs. Willis came up to the plate representing the winning run and Terry forced her to pop out to Ladnier to give Southeastern the win.