Box Score

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Shelbi Tucker led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk off home run to give Sam Houston State a 4-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana in Southland Conference softball action Sunday afternoon at the Bearkat Softball Complex.

The Lady Lions (21-27, 11-16 Southland) squandered a 3-0 lead and ended their postseason hopes. Sam Houston State improved to 21-30 overall and 13-13 in league play with the comeback win.

The Lady Lions jumped out to a lead against Sam Houston State starter Cecilia Castillo in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Kelsey Nichols drew a walk, senior Katie Duhe reached on an error and senior Tamra Ladnier singled to load the bases with one out. Junior Katie Matthews then drew a one-out walk to force in the game's first run and chase Castillo from the game. Reliever Shelby Lancaster then gave up a sacrifice fly by junior Meghan Gomez to give the Lady Lions a 2-0 lead.

Southeastern added to its lead in the top of the second inning. Freshman Megan McCollum singled and moved to second on a single by sophomore Michelle Duhe. One out later, Katie Duhe singled home McCollum to push the Lady Lion advantage to 3-0.

Sam Houston State had a chance of its own in the bottom of the second inning. Tucker reached on a two-base throwing error by Katie Duhe. Two outs later, Brittany Gutierrez singled to right field, but Matthews gunned out Tucker trying to score to keep the Bearkats off the board.

Sam Houston State cut into the lead in the bottom of the third inning. After loading the bases, sophomore pitcher Kati Morse walked Erin Burford to force in a run. Senior Bailey Zievert came in to relieve her and struck out Tucker. She then forced Tomi Garrison to hit a grounder to Katie Duhe, but freshman Megan Moore dropped Duhe's throw at third to allow another run to score and cut the Southeastern lead to 3-2.

The Lady Lions loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Michelle Duhe, Nichols and Katie Duhe had consecutive singles to load the bases. However, Lancaster forced Ladnier to ground out to hold the Southeastern lead at one.

Sam Houston State tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Sarah Allison led off the frame with a solo home run. A walk to Gutierrez chased Zievert from the game. Sophomore Kenna Terry (7-7) came in and loaded the bases after an error by McCollum and a walk to Kim Damian. However, Terry forced Erin Burford to fly out to end the inning and keep the score deadlocked.

Southeastern had a chance to take the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Matthews tripled off the top of the right field fence with two outs, chasing Lancaster. Garrison (15-16) then hit Gomez to put a pair of runners on, but forced junior Trish Bliss to ground out to end the inning.

Southeastern will be back in action on Tuesday, hosting LSU at 6 p.m. at North Oak Park. Tuesday's game will be televised (tape delay) on the Southeastern Channel (Charter Channel 18) and live stats will be available at www.LionSports.net.