Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

HAMMOND – The Southeastern Louisiana softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep at the hands of Southland Conference foe McNeese State Saturday afternoon at North Oak Park.

The Lady Lions fell to 22-29 overall and 11-18 in Southland Conference play with the losses. McNeese State (28-27, 17-12 Southland) clinched a spot in next week's Southland Conference Tournament.

In the opener, McNeese State broke a scoreless tie with a three-run fifth inning keyed by a two-run home run by Alanna DiVittorio. The Cowgirls hung on for a 5-2 win behind pitcher Kayla Shepherd (17-16), who scattered six hits and struck out seven in a complete-game effort. Junior Trish Bliss and sophomore Kelsey Nichols each drove in a run in the loss for Southeastern.

The Lady Lions carried a 3-2 lead into the top of the seventh inning, but McNeese State sent 12 batters to the plate in a seven-run inning to take a 9-3 win. Freshman Meghan McCollum and junior Lauren Coniglio each drove in runs for the Lady Lions, while sophomore Michelle Duhe had two hits for Southeastern.

Southeastern will close out the series and the 2011 season on Sunday at 12 p.m. Prior to first pitch, seniors Heather Grivas, Bailey Zievert, Tamra Ladnier and Katie Duhe will be honored in a special Senior Day ceremony.

Game One – McNeese State 5, Southeastern Louisiana 2
Shepherd and Lady Lion sophomore Kenna Terry (7-8) matched zeroes through the first three innings with neither lineup managing much of a threat. The Cowgirls made the first legitimate scoring threat in the top of the fourth inning. Consecutive singles by Katie Shumaker and Molly Guidry put a pair of runners on with one out. However, Terry forced Dani Price to ground out and struck out Lindsey Langner to keep the game scoreless.

Southeastern mounted a threat of its own in the bottom of the fourth inning. Shepherd allowed a single to Katie Duhe and then walked Ladnier to put two runners on with one out. However, Shepherd forced junior Meghan Gomez and freshman Tori Shepherd to fly out to end the frame.

Singles by Kourtney Kober and Claire Terracina put runners on the corners for the Cowgirls in the top of the fifth inning with one out. Katie Roux then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Kober from third. DiVittorio then ripped a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.

The Lady Lions looked to rally in the bottom of the fifth. A single by Bliss, a Michelle Duhe walk and a single by McCollum loaded the bases with one out. Nichols followed with a single to right to plate Bliss. However, Shepherd forced Katie Duhe to ground into a double play to keep the McNeese lead at 3-1.

McNeese got two more runs in the sixth inning. An error by Gomez and an RBI single by Roux pushed the McNeese lead to 5-1.

Southeastern got the run back in the bottom of the sixth, as Gomez drew a one-out walk and scored on an RBI double by Bliss. However, Southeastern would get no closer, as Shepherd struck out freshman Megan Moore to end the sixth and sat the Lady Lions down in order in the seventh.

Game Two – McNeese State 9, Southeastern Louisiana 3
Southeastern came out aggressive against McNeese State starter Meagan Bond (10-9) in the bottom of the first inning. Walks to Michelle Duhe and Katie Duhe, followed by Gomez reaching on an error loaded the bases with two outs. Bond got out of it by forcing Ladnier to ground out.

Throwing errors by Moore and sophomore Kati Morse (4-9) allowed McNeese State to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with an unearned run.

Southeastern came right back in the bottom of the second inning. Coniglio started things with a double down the left field line and scored when DiVittorio booted Michelle Duhe's single to left. McCollum followed with a sharp single to right center to score Duhe and put Southeastern ahead, 2-1.

The Lady Lions added another run in the bottom of the third inning. A single by Nichols, a walk to Katie Duhe and a McNeese error loaded the bases with two outs. Coniglio then drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run and put Southeastern ahead, 3-1.

McNeese State cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth inning. Langner led off the inning with a bunt single and scored on a RBI single by Terracina to bring the Cowgirls within one.

Southeastern had a chance to pad the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Walks by Coniglio and McCollum, as well as a single by Michelle Duhe loaded the bases, but Bond struck out Nichols to keep Southeastern's lead at 3-2.

Langner led off the seventh with a walk, then Kober followed with a bunt towards third. Moore fielded it cleanly, but her throw to second was late putting a pair of runners on with no outs. Stacey Conley followed with a double to right center, scoring Kober to tie the score and chase Morse from the game.

Zievert came in and was greeted by a two-run double by Terracina, before allowing two more runs on a throwing error and a sacrifice fly by DiVittorio. Morse eventually came back in to replace Zievert and gave up two more runs on a two-run single by Langner.

Southeastern put a pair on in the top of the seventh inning when Gomez singled and Ladnier reached on an error by Roux. However, Bliss lined into a double play to end the game.