Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team battled to a doubleheader split with Southland Conference foe Sam Houston State Saturday afternoon at the Bearkat Softball Complex.

The Lady Lions (21-25, 11-15 Southland) remained in eighth place, right behind Sam Houston State (20-30, 12-13 Southland). Southeastern won the opener, 3-2, before falling, 9-1 in the nightcap.

A three-run home run by senior Tamra Ladnier provided Southeastern all its offense in the opening game. Senior Bailey Zievert (4-1) did the rest for the Lady Lions, as the Vinton native hurled a complete-game six hitter.

Sam Houston State answered with 12 hits in the nightcap. An RBI single by sophomore Kelsey Nichols was one of the three hits Southeastern managed versus Sam Houston State starter Shelby Lancaster (3-2).

The rubber game of the series is set for 12 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats will be available at www.gobearkats.com.

Game One – Southeastern Louisiana 3, Sam Houston State 2
Zievert and Tomi Garrison (14-16) matched zeroes until the Lady Lions took the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Senior Katie Duhe led off the frame with a double to right centerfield and moved to third when junior Meghan Gomez singled to left.

Ladnier followed, lining a 1-1 offering from Garrison over the left field fence and off the top of the scoreboard. The Hernando, Miss. native's first home run of 2011 gave Southeastern a 3-0 cushion.

SHSU cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Kim Damian powered a solo home run to spoil the shutout and bring the Bearkats within two at 3-1.

The Bearkats made one last charge in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Alex Survant led off the inning with a single and eventually scored on a one-out sacrifice fly by Erin Burford. Sarah Allison came to the plate representing the go-ahead run, but Zievert forced her to pop out to Ladnier to secure the victory.

Game Two – Sam Houston State 9, Southeastern Louisiana 1
Southeastern put a pair of runners on in the top of the first inning via a single by Katie Duhe and a walk by junior Katie Matthews. However, Lancaster forced Gomez to pop out to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Bearkats took the lead off Lady Lion sophomore Kenna Terry (7-6). Tori Benavidez singled and scored on an RBI single by Survant to give SHSU a 1-0 advantage.

Southeastern came right back in the top of the second inning, loading the bases with one out on walks by Ladnier and junior Lauren Coniglio, as well as a single by freshman Megan McCollum. After Lancaster retired sophomore Michelle Duhe, Nichols beat out an infield single to allow freshman pinch runner Aly Williams to score the tying run. Lancaster forced Katie Duhe to ground out to end the inning with the score tied.

Sloppy defense cost Southeastern a couple of runs in the bottom of the second inning. With a pair of runners on and two outs, Terry forced Benavidez to hit a grounder to Katie Duhe at short. However, freshman Megan Moore couldn't handle Duhe's throw, allowing the go-ahead run to score. With the inning extended, Damian then singled home two more runs to put SHSU up, 4-1.

An RBI double by Benavidez added another run in the top of the fourth inning. The game was ended in the top of the sixth inning, as a three-run home run by Burford capped a four-run sixth for the Bearkats.