Box Score

Box Score

HAMMOND – A six-run third inning aided by two errors was too much for Southeastern Louisiana to overcome in a 12-4 loss to Southern in non-conference softball action Wednesday night at North Oak Park.
 
Southeastern (2-14) dropped their sixth straight decision with the loss. Southern improved to 3-6 overall.
 
Sophomore second baseman Megan McCollum, junior outfielder Kelsey Nichols, senior catcher Trish Bliss and sophomore shortstop Kayla Elswick each drove in runs for the Lady Lions. Elswick and junior outfielder Katie Doyle each had a pair of hits for Southeastern. However, Southern touched up a pair of Southeastern pitchers – sophomore Jessie Browne (1-5) and senior Vicki Honeycutt – for 12 hits, while Southeastern stranded 12 runners.
 
Southeastern jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Nichols singled home the inning's first run and another came in when Southern starter Gabrielle McDaniel hit Bliss with bases loaded.
 
Southern cut the lead in half in the top of the second. Danielle Jackson led off the inning with a single and scored two outs later on a double by Shelby Senegal to pull the Jaguars within one.
 
The Lady Lions got the run back in the bottom half of the second. Junior outfielder Michelle Duhe reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by McCollum to put Southeastern up, 3-1.
 
Things unraveled for Southeastern in the top of the third, as Browne was pulled for the game after allowing two runs. Honeycutt entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs. After retiring the first batter she faced, she forced Senegal to hit a chopper in front of the circle. Honeycutt's throw to first was well wide, allowing four runs to score and giving Southern a commanding 7-3 lead.
 
A two-out rally in the bottom of the third helped Southeastern inch closer. Bliss started things with a double off the centerfield fence. After a walk was issued to senior third baseman Lauren Coniglio, Elswick singled to left field to plate Bliss and chase McDaniel from the game. Southern reliever Kendyl Stevenson (1-2) came in to retire Duhe and keep the Southern lead at 7-4.
 
Southeastern would get no closer, as a three-run home run in the sixth by Jasmine Payne and a two-run shot by Kiah Williams in the seventh gave the Lady Jaguars a 12-4 lead. Stevenson pitched 4.2 innings of scoreless relief to secure the win.
 
Southeastern will now head to Woodstock, Ga. for the second straight weekend to compete in the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech. On Friday, Southeastern opens tournament play versus Alabama State at 2:30 p.m. and Morehead State at 5 p.m. The Lady Lions will then face Elon at 1 p.m. and Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Southeastern closes tournament play on Sunday versus host Georgia Tech at 10 a.m.