Box Score

THIBODAUX – Southeastern Louisiana scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to rally for a 5-4 Southland Conference softball victory over Nicholls State Wednesday evening at the Colonel Softball Complex.

Southeastern (20-25, 10-14 Southland) avoided the series sweep and remaining two games out of sixth place with six league games remaining. The top six teams in the Southland Conference standings will advance to the Southland Conference Tournament, scheduled for May 12-14 in Huntsville, Texas. With the loss, Nicholls fell to 11-34 overall and 4-19 in Southland play.

The Lady Lions entered the final inning trailing 3-2 after Nicholls had scored three runs off sophomore starter Kenna Terry (7-5) in the bottom of the first inning. Southeastern opened the inning with consecutive singles by sophomore Michelle Duhe, sophomore Kelsey Nichols and senior Katie Duhe to tie the score versus reliever Ashton Bennett (6-17). A throwing error by Nicholls shortstop Megan Gaspard on a grounder by junior Meghan Gomez forced in two more runs to put the Lady Lions up, 5-3.

Terry, who held Nicholls scoreless after a three-run first, completed the effort in the bottom of the seventh inning, but not without the Colonels making it interesting. With one out, Nicholls slugger Ashley Ray hit her 15th home run of the season and her fourth homer of the series to cut the Southeastern lead in half.

After walking Mandy Granger, Terry retired Brittany Marcet and Tori Lay to end the game. All seven of Terry's wins this season have come in Southland Conference play.

“We had the right people coming up in the last inning,” Southeastern head coach Pete Langlois said. “Katie Duhe was swinging a hot bat all day and we knew once Michelle and Kelsey got on, she could hit them in. Kenna deserves a lot of credit for keeping it close and giving us that chance to win it at the plate.”

Katie Duhe was 3-for-4 with a pair of runs and two RBI. Nichols also scored two runs, while junior Katie Matthews drove in a run. Michelle Duhe was 2-for-4 on the day with a run scored.

The Lady Lions mounted the first scoring threat of the game versus Nicholls starter Katie Moulder in the top of the first inning. Michelle Duhe led off the inning with a single and moved to second when Katie Duhe hit a one-out double into the left field corner. However, Moulder retired Matthews and Gomez to keep Southeastern scoreless.

Whitney Roan got Nicholls started in the bottom of the first inning with a one-out double into the left centerfield gap. After Ray drew a walk, Granger hit a shot to right that scored Roan. Matthews throw in was off-line, allowing Granger to move all the way to third and Ray to score. Granger would later score on a single by Lay to push the NSU lead to 3-0.

Southeastern cut into the lead in the top of the third inning. Nichols drew a one-out walk and scored when Katie Duhe hit a double into the right centerfield gap. Duhe would then come home to score on a single by Matthews to cut the lead to 3-2.

Southeastern had another scoring opportunity in the fourth, as Bennett hit junior Trish Bliss and then walked Megan McCollum to put a pair of runners on with no outs. However, Bennett retired Michelle Duhe, Nichols and Katie Duhe to maintain a one-run lead.

Nicholls had a good chance of its own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Terry hit Lauren Jolivette and gave up singles to Lay and Megan Gaspard to load the bases with two outs. Terry bounced back to force Roan to ground out to keep Southeastern within striking distance. In the next two innings, Terry and Bennett matched zeroes before Southeastern took the lead for good in the seventh.

Southeastern will be back in action this weekend, when it heads to Huntsville, Texas for a three-game series at league foe Sam Houston State. The series opens with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and closes with a 12 p.m. contest on Sunday.